*Fast justice in Cyprus? A joke really, if one considers the evidence submitted to parliament by Lawyers Association President Michalis Vorkas. It might even take up to 17 years to conclude a civil case. It could be an exaggeration, as this might be rather the exception. It is declared however by the EU that a civil case takes no more than 600 days to yield a result, around 20 months give or take. In Denmark, similar lawsuits close in 100 days and in most countries, 200. Why would Cyprus say that cases conclude in 20 months, when the average, if we take for example, the cases brought against this paper, is over five years. There’s a simple enough explanation, some say. The average is not calculated that way. A number of lawsuits are withdrawn in two months, while others take seven years, so this is how we ended up with 600 days. Μisleading? Well, yeah, just a tad. The average should be about pending trials.

*Customer service used to be fast. We’re talking about the Citizen Service Centres, where the only thing they maintained of their previously fast-track service, is answering the phone. Sometimes one feels they respond to the call, even before the line rings. You obviously then need to book an appointment. At the Prodromou avenue branch in central Nicosia there is no available appointment to issue an identity card, at least for the next three months. At the Engomi branch, you can book one in less than 20 days. Are they more creative workers in Engomi? Whatever it maybe, Citizen Service Centres have the same response rate as Gesy doctors.

*This government reshuffle mess is really becoming exhausting. It’s happening, a minister says, keeping you on your toes. And yet another declares, oh it’s the same old, same old, the crisis has passed, the President is not reshuffling anyone. ‘Where would he find any better?’, our source declares. It’s laughable, one may say. On the other hand, Nikos Richelie has been a high-ranking courtier in the Palace of Nikos Louis Perapedkiotis, so he knows how to work the angles and mostly run circles around people. Will the President be keeping the burn outs until the parliamentary elections or would his re-election plans be more shrewdly served by shuffling around fresh party faces from DIKO, EDEK and DIPA? Is it happening over the next few days?Some say, everyone is slamming the door on him. The First Lady is also to blame. She’s been looking through the list of best men and women, but still can’t find anyone who hasn’t already turned favours.

Michalis Hadjipantela has returned to the European Parliament with vengeance. He’s hardly been back and has already undertaken multi-faceted, heavy lifting missions that have been successfully completed, proving that he’s there to work. His report on 2026 Public Health spending was approved by a massive 84%, His amendment at the Environment Committee as shadow EPP rapporteur, was of equal importance. The rescEU budget was also raised from 168 to 201 million euro for natural disasters, such as the recent deadly fires in Limassol. Michalis Hadjipantela also took over as shadow rapporteur in the finance committee’s ruling on the evaluation of needs in the framework of European defence readiness through to 2030. All these engagements indicate that his colleagues trust his substantive interventions and convincing arguments.

*We’re confused by the GSI saga of statements and counterstatements. Greek FM Gerapetritis, Cy fin minister Keravnos (twice), Greek fin minister Hadjidakis, President Christodoulides and spokesman Letypiotis. The Cyprus government insists on the GSI cable laying before paying up the 25 million needed, Athens believes they’re being taken for a ride. Nicosia thinks that Greece is pushing their luck in this blame game. A sort of we want to shield Cyprus at geopolitical level, but they’re being stingy approach. Some say that Christodoulides and Mitsotakis are the ones taking us for a ride. Christodoulides is playing with the taxpayers money, while the Greek PM backs out of the project, since Cypriots are hard-headed. So both come out on top. In all fairness, Turkey is the one killing off the GSI, with its Eastern Mediterranean domination. Ankara is not about to let the Cyprus natural gas out of the bag, taking Israel out of its energy isolation in the process.

*Police are really happy about the photoradar list, as it will go a long way towards solving the pending fines, moving in parallel with the bill allowing to notify the offending driver, through sms or email. If the method is approved by the Data Protection Commissioner, the pending fines list will be integrated on port and airport computers, as well as checkpoint document systems.

Police chief Arnaoutis says that the force has concluded its own investigation on the recent deadly fires but can’t find evidence of arson. Fire Service Chief Logginos is however arguing that arsonists are dumping lit cigarettes wherever they can. He found them at the Mallia community, where the blaze started, while just a few days ago, some idiot set fire to a garbage bin in Pedhoulas. If what Logginos says is true (a criminal ring want to torch Troodos), we’re all doomed. And if we arrest them, we’ll impale them at Eleftheria Square.

justice

THOUKIS

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