Debate over the constitutionality of government deputy ministries in Cyprus

The legality of establishing deputy ministries in the Republic of Cyprus has become a subject of intense legal and institutional debate. Critics, including legal experts Christos Triantafyllides, Achilleas Emilianides, and Christos Clerides, argue that the constitution does not provide for the creation of these offices. The primary concern is that the Attorney General, George Savvides, has been accused of avoiding a final judicial ruling on the matter. Specifically, when defense attorneys raise constitutional objections during legal proceedings, the Legal Service frequently issues a stay of criminal prosecution. This practice effectively prevents the Supreme Constitutional Court from issuing an irrevocable decision. A recent incident involved the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, where a case against a female property owner was challenged by lawyer Savvas Zannoupas on constitutional grounds. The court has now requested written submissions from both the prosecution and the defense to address these claims. Proponents of the critique suggest that the continued operation of these ministries, despite the constitutional uncertainty, risks invalidating future government decisions.