‘Fruitful discussion’ over Audit Office reform
Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis on Tuesday met deputy auditor-general Kyriacos Kyriacou to discuss ‘the philosophy’ of government bills aimed at reforming the Audit Office.
Hartsiotis described it as a “fruitful discussion”.
The two exchanged opinions and views which will be subject to more study, the minister said.
According to Hartsiotis, the meeting unfolded in a positive climate. More details will be announced once the new auditor-general is officiated into the role on October 2, he specified.
Earlier on Tuesday, President Nikos Christodoulides announced Andreas Papaconstantinouwould be the new auditor-general.
A presidency statement said his appointment comes at a time when Papaconstantinou will be called “to support and decisively contribute to the modernisation of the Audit Office.”
This entails the introduction of an audit council – a caveat the former auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides had been ardently opposed to.
The Audit Office had described the reforms as an attempt to stifle its independence and gag its reports, specifying there had not been any calls from EU or international bodies to reform the Audit Office.
The bills also entail a reform of the legal service, which has been a long-standing demand of the EU Commission over the attorney general’s dual role – that of state prosecutor and government legal advisor.