Cyprus parliamentary committee discusses bill on judicial deportation of foreign nationals

On Wednesday, the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs in Cyprus held a discussion regarding a bill proposed by the Democratic Rally (DISY) party. The bill, introduced by MP Nikos Tornaritis, aims to establish judicial deportation as an optional penalty for foreign nationals from third countries convicted of serious crimes. Tornaritis noted that similar measures exist in 12 other European Union member states. However, representatives from the Legal Service and other competent agencies expressed concerns regarding the necessity of the legislation. The Legal Service argued that Cyprus already possesses effective administrative mechanisms to remove individuals deemed dangerous to public order. Concerns were also raised about the potential for legal overlap between the proposed judicial process and existing administrative procedures. Tornaritis acknowledged that the bill faces several objections and requires further coordination among stakeholders. He expressed doubt that the proposal would be submitted to the Plenary Session of the House before the current parliamentary session concludes.