Diverging views over whether to separate the dual powers of Cyprus’s Attorney General were laid bare at a conference titled “Historical Evolution, Prospects and Challenges for the Institution of the Attorney General of the Republic.” President Nikos Christodoulides and House Speaker Annita Demetriou signalled support for the reform package now before the House Legal Affairs Committee, while Attorney General George Savvides restated his reservations about the bills as drafted.
The President’s position
President Christodoulides called the split of the Attorney General’s dual role “necessary as a modernisation measure” and a response to public demands for independence, full transparency and the avoidance of conflicts of interest or roles. He argued the change would bolster public trust in justice, ensure accountability and align Cyprus with European and international standards.
Under the government proposal, the criminal prosecution functions would pass to a new General Public Prosecutor, while the Attorney General would remain the state’s chief legal adviser and head of the Legal Service. The President said the reform is consistent with recommendations over time by the Venice Commission, the European Commission’s Rule of Law reports and GRECO. He noted his respect for the Attorney General’s concerns, even as the government advances its plan.
The House Speaker’s view
House Speaker Annita Demetriou stressed that the aim is not to undermine the institution but to safeguard and strengthen independence, accountability and effectiveness. The bill cluster preserves the Attorney General’s advisory role to the executive and creates a new General Public Prosecutor of the Republic charged with criminal prosecutions.
Demetriou underlined that the Legal Service is a pillar of the rule of law with direct impact on daily life and democratic functioning. Without legal safeguards there are no rights, she said; without institutional checks there is no equality; and without justice, democracy is exposed to serious risks.
The Attorney General’s objections
Attorney General George Savvides said the executive embraced certain GRECO and EU Rule of Law recommendations without prior consultation with the Legal Service on how to separate the powers. He reiterated “serious reservations” about the constitutionality of the proposed model as reflected in the bills. His detailed opinion and the views of external experts he appointed have been made public, as has his full opening statement to the House Legal Affairs Committee.
Savvides added that he and his staff remain at Parliament’s disposal to work through problems and craft reforms that address challenges without endangering fundamental constitutional provisions. He also referenced ongoing discussions among the Justice Ministry, the Legal Service and the Supreme Court on how to regulate judicial review of non-prosecution and prosecution-stay decisions by the Attorney General.
Savvides remarked that the Attorney General faces near-daily sweeping criticism and contestation, sometimes from actors with ulterior motives or political agendas. Social media, he noted, heavily shapes public perceptions of institutions, often without full facts or legal understanding. He warned about misrepresentation and disinformation amplified online and suggested Parliament consider legislative responses, arguing that deliberate institutional undermining erodes democracy and does not fall under protected free expression.
Addressing corruption, Savvides said it is a global phenomenon whose “tentacles” regenerate. He cited positive remarks for Cyprus in the 2025 EU Rule of Law Report regarding the handling of corruption cases, while stressing that sustained awareness and prevention are essential to make lasting progress.