The House of Representatives, after a lively debate, approved on Thursday with 32 votes in favour, 21 against and one abstention a bill, proposed by the main opposition party AKEL, to suspend the application of the law on the privatisation of the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) and the Cyprus state Telecommunication Authority CYTA, until December 31, 2017.
The bill was voted by opposition parties AKEL, DIKO, EDEK, the Green party, and the Citizens Alliance. The ruling party DISY voted against the bill. DIKO MP Athina Kyriakidou abstained.
Parties that backed the bill argued, inter alia, that the arrangement will give time to the organisations to restructure and modernise their operation, pointing out that these organizations are important for the protection of the Republic’s national interests and the security of the country and should remain under state ownership and control.
Government Spokesman, in a written statement, said on Friday that the government will study and evaluate the law in consultation with the Attorney General.