Cyprus parliament discusses bill on criminal liability for government officials

On February 11, the Legal Affairs Committee of the Cypriot Parliament reviewed a bill proposed by DISY MP Kyriakos Hadjiyiannis to establish criminal liability for high-ranking officials. The legislation targets ministers, deputy ministers, commissioners, and government spokespersons for intentional acts or omissions that harm the state's interests. Specifically, it addresses the intentional violation of the Constitution or laws, and actions that damage the Republic even if no specific statute is breached. While Hadjiyiannis argues the law would ensure transparency and accountability, the proposal has faced significant opposition. Representatives from the Ministry of Justice, the Legal Service, and the Cabinet Secretary expressed concerns that the bill could criminalize political life and discourage officials from performing their duties. Historically, a similar bill from 2013 was withdrawn, and an effort in 2020 also failed to pass. The current proposal would not apply retroactively and does not intend to interfere with the powers of the Attorney General.