Cyprus parliament amends rules for electing speaker and committee procedures

The House of Representatives of Cyprus approved amendments to its internal regulations to modernize parliamentary functions. The changes were passed with 39 votes in favor, 8 against, and 4 abstentions. Voting against were ELAM members Christos Christou, Linos Papagiannis, and Sotiris Ioannou; DIKO members Zacharias Koulias and Pavlos Mylonas; Eirini Charalambidou (Nicosia), Andreas Themistocleous (Limassol), and independent member Kostis Efstathiou. The four abstentions came from EDEK members Marinos Sizopoulos and Ilias Myrianthous, Alexandra Attalidou (Nicosia), and Christiana Erotokritou (DIKO). The reform mandates a new election process for the Speaker of the House, requiring an absolute majority in the first round and a simple majority in the second. The procedures also include provisions for replacing the Speaker, electronic voting, and clearer rules for committee functions including live streaming. These adjustments aim to increase transparency and operational efficiency.