Reforms for legal service, audit office due next month

Two controversial bills aimed at introducing reforms at the legal service and audit office will be ready next month Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis said on Thursday, amid expected backlash over the proposals.

In an interview to Philenews, Hartsiotis said it was high time to modernise the independent institutions as it has been 65 years since their founding and there have been no changes to them.

The audit office has charged it has been kept out of any discussions, and its opinions have not been sought, according to its spokesperson Marios Petrides.

Though Hartsiotis has not delved into any details on what the expected reforms would mean, it is understood the government aims to introduce a council of sorts to approve audit reports.  

Petrides has described it as an attempt to stifle the office.

The proposals are expected to go through cabinet at the end of September.

Responding to the criticism about the lack of consultation, the minister said there will be ample opportunity to do so in parliament.

As for the legal service, the report said the bill aims to separate the dual role of the attorney general who currently serves as the state prosecutor and legal advisor.

It has been a long-standing requirement by the European Commission which has identified the matter again in its latest EU Rule of Law report.

Hartsiotis underlined the government consulted with legal experts and academics before moving forward.

Nonetheless, he specified the proposals on reforming the legal service will not be up for consultation because it will be reviewed by the legal service itself.

The minister also said there would be consultation for the audit office bills, though Petrides said even an exchange of views had not taken place.

Petrides added the government was using the term ‘modernise’ for communication purposes, as what it was actually seeking to do is going to regress the audit office, rather than propel it forward.