New House Speaker calls for unity

Annita Demetriou, the first woman to be elected Speaker of the House, called for cooperation and unity when she met President Nicos Anastasiades on Friday.

Demetriou had her first meeting with Anastasiades following her election the previous day.

After her courtesy visit to the Presidential Palace, Demetriou said the government and parliament share the same goal of meeting the people’s expectations, but that could only be achieved with cooperation.

She said the two institutions must cooperate to meet the people’s expectations “and be able to restore our credibility and boost trust.”

“The parliament will respond, and we will be able to achieve the necessary results with transparency, effectiveness, and determination.”

Demetriou committed to launching an initiative to push for the approval of “much-needed reforms” currently stuck in parliament.

“I think we all agree that these reforms are necessary.” “Parliament conveyed a message of unity and that cooperation is necessary. That is what we will hold on to and move ahead.”

President Anastasiades stressed that challenges ahead could only be tackled “through a climate of accord for the benefit of society”.

He said that at the May 30 elections, the electorate conveyed a message to the political parties that “more convergences are needed, more understanding”.

Anastasiades has called meetings with political party leaders next week to achieve consensus on the reform agenda.

He is preparing for a Cabinet reshuffle to seek a government of wider appeal in the wake of public anger over corruption scandals and the need to execute reforms.

Anastasiades had been mulling a reshuffle for some time but waited until after the elections to gauge public sentiment.

Youngest and first woman Speaker

Cyprus has its first woman, Speaker of the House, since independence in 1960 after MPs elected ruling DISY’s Annita

Demetriou to the post, the second-highest office in the country.

Demetriou, who is also the youngest speaker to be elected at the age of 35, garnered 25 votes in the second round of voting on Thursday.

The vote took place as the newly elected MPs took their seats for the House’s first plenary, following the elections two weeks ago.

Initially, seven candidates entered the first round: AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou, DISY MP Annita Demetriou, Democratic Front’s (DIPA) leader Marios Garoyian, Green party boss Charalampos Theopemptou, EDEK’s leader Marinos Sizopoulos, far-right ELAM chairman Christos Christou, and DIKO leader Nicolas Papadopoulos.

As no candidate could garner the necessary 29 plus votes in the first round, MPs went through a second round, where the House Speaker can be elected with just 22 votes.

ELAM withdrew its candidacy in the second round and voted for Demetriou.

In her acceptance speech, Demetriou, the only female candidate for the post, referred to another pioneer — US Vice President Kamala Harris.

Demetriou made strong references to Kamala Harris’ victory speech, highlighting the shattering of glass ceilings for gender equality.

Harris was elected the USA’s first woman Vice President, who is also of African American and South Asian origin.

Demetriou said MPs were tasked with restoring parliament’s credibility after the ‘golden passports’ corruption scandal.