The Plenary Session of the House of Representatives unanimously approved on Thursday the consolidated text of the law proposals that regulate the benefits granted to former and former Presidents of the Republic and the Parliament.
The proposals were submitted by the President of the Environmentalists Stavros Papadouris, the independent MP Alexandra Attalidou and the Speaker of the Parliament Annita Dimitriou, with the Parliamentary Committee on Institutions, Values and the Commissioner of Administration finally formulating a commonly accepted unified text.
Written and oral amendments were also submitted by AKEL and MPs Irini Charalambidou and Alexandra Attalidou as well as a joint one from both.
AKEL's amendment was voted and the amendments of Mrs. Charalambidou and Mrs. Attalidou as well as the common one were voted against.
Under the final arrangements the official vehicle will be granted to former officials for a period of five years from their retirement.
Also, secretarial support services will be provided for life, provided that they are exclusively related to duties deriving from the office they held.
The possibility of selecting a civil servant to provide secretarial support is also abolished.
The relevant allowance for secretarial services will continue to be paid by the Republic directly to the beneficiary, as is currently the case.
The new provisions will be applied only to persons who will be elected for the first time to the offices of the President of the Republic or the Speaker of the Parliament after the entry into force of the law.
PtB, because it has a conflict of interest, declared it and abstained from voting.
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The Member of Parliament Irini Charalambidou stated that the voluntary renunciation is unimportant and that her amendment also concerns the acting Presidents, i.e. PtB and PtD. He explained that because the PtB has waived privileges by its public statements, then it remains the PtD and can refer to the law if it wants to.
She stated that she is sure that the PtB will send a letter to the Accounting Office to inform and that the challenge is now before the PtD.
Alexandra Attalidou referred to her own amendment to limit the benefits of working as a secretary to five years. Offices should not be associated with privileges, he said, explaining that the issue touches on accountability, transparency, proportionality and the relationship between politicians and citizens.
The President of Ecologists, Stavros Papadouris, said that the unified text serves the purpose in an understandable way. Regarding the amendments, he said that the Movement supports Mrs. Attalidou's amendment, explaining that the others may have an issue of unconstitutionality and it would be a shame if the whole effort was wasted. He stated that his goal as a legislator is to vote on a text that will stand after so much work.
AKEL MP Andreas Pasiourtidis stated that the consolidated text serves both purposes for enjoying privileges and ensures that other services, which are not unnecessary, will continue to be provided such as secretarial services.
He explained that the former Presidents of the Republic are also members of the National Assembly and therefore secretarial services are necessary. AKEL said, it votes against the other amendments, while for the party's amendment it explained that there is a voluntary renunciation and this is a political act.
The President of the Institutions Committee, DISY MP Dimitris Dimitriou said that the framework of privileges and benefits is rationalized in a rational and balanced way.
He added that the official vehicle is now granted for a period of five years while there is also rationalization in the matter of secretarial support and the guard. He stated that his party is voting against Ms. Attalidou's amendment and that of AKEL because the voluntary renunciation does not make sense to be done by law.
Regarding the Attalidou-Charalambidou joint amendment, he called not to drown the effort in "a logic of passion" because if it is deemed unconstitutional, then all our work is lost.
The President of DIKO Nikolas Papadopoulos stated that the preservation of the prestige of the institutions is above all and that this is preserved when it operates under the sense of justice. He said that DIKO favors the unified text and AKEL's oral amendment and opposes the amendments of Mr. Attalidou and Charalambidou.
He also called not to personalize issues and to end demagoguery because if we dismantle the institutions of our state, there will be a price.
AKEL MP Giorgos Loukaidis stated that his party understands that his oral amendment does not create bindingness, but followed the example implemented with the multiple pensions. He said the legislation modernizes and improves the system while maintaining moderation.
The Speaker of the Parliament and President of the DISY Annita Dimitriou in her own position stated that when we vote on a legislation we do so because we believe in it and not because it concerns the alpha or beta person. She stated that she waived her privileges and means what she says without changing her point of view and remaining consistent.
He said that today we are proceeding with a studied rationalization and support and protection of the institutions and we are taking a step towards transparency and establishing clear rules. Mrs. Dimitriou mentioned that it is necessary for what concerns us, to come out first and follow them.
