The House of Representatives has dissolved ahead of the parliamentary elections that will take place on the 24th of May.
The next plenary will take place on 4 June.
House Speaker Annita Demetriou on 23 April announced the completion of the 12th parliamentary period and spoke about the legislative work that was achieved, emphasising on the contribution of the House to democracy and society.
Speaking at the last plenary of the current composition of the Parliament, Demetriou said that during the period 2021–2026, more than 1,000 bills and over 250 law proposals were voted, while four leading reforms were passed concerning Local Administration, Public Service, Judiciary and Taxation, "with the aim of strengthening the quality of democracy and improving the everyday life of citizens".
Demetriou stressed the importance of parliamentary diplomacy, saying that during that term the House of Representatives contributed "to the promotion of national aspirations and the defence of the interests of the Republic of Cyprus".
“At a time when Turkey is attempting to overturn the framework of discussion on the Cyprus issue, we have developed our positions at the level of either Speakers of Parliament, such as during the Conferences of Speakers of Parliaments of the Member States of the European Union, or the Meeting of Speakers of the Commonwealth Parliaments, the French National Assembly, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, the National People’s Congress of China and other national parliaments" she stressed.
She added that "equally positive have been the results of our actions at the bilateral level, through the Friendship Groups that we maintain with 53 foreign parliaments".
Moreover, she noted that during this period, the House welcomed 52 heads of state and government, Presidents of Parliaments and Presidents of international parliamentary organisations and European Commissioners and officials. It also welcomed 122 parliamentary delegations and Ministers of foreign countries.
Finally, she thanked the MPs and the staff of the Parliament for their cooperation over the last five years.
(Source: CNA)
