Deadline extension approved
The House of Representatives approved a compromise that extends the application deadline for the Central Agency for Equal Distribution of Burdens (CAEDB) interest subsidy scheme. Lawmakers extended the period from 12 to 24 months.
AKEL originally proposed removing the deadline entirely and preventing future time limits. DIKO tabled an amendment for the 24-month extension, which passed 25-13 with two abstentions. The final bill, including the amendment, received unanimous approval with 41 votes.
Heated plenary debate
DIKO MP Christos Senekis defended the amendment, calling AKEL’s original proposal “clearly unconstitutional”. He warned it would cause uncontrolled budget growth and administrative chaos shortly after recent scheme expansions. The 24-month extension, he said, prevents victimising applicants while maintaining control.
AKEL MP Nikos Kettiros strongly opposed the amendment, claiming it “cancels the entire bill”. He accused opponents of political point-scoring and vowed AKEL would return with new proposals. Kettiros noted support from refugee organisations and the CAEDB board chairman.
Cross-party positions
DISY MP Onoufrios Koullas acknowledged AKEL’s reasoning but highlighted legal and practical complications. He supported the “reasonable” 24-month compromise and urged the President not to refer it back.
Several MPs criticised bureaucratic delays that previously cost refugees benefits over minor timing issues. AKEL’s Christos Christofias suggested extra staff could handle increased applications. He recalled pandemic-era cases where banks advised waiting years for better schemes.
DIKO’s Zacharias Koulias called for consensus to avoid presidential referral. Other speakers stressed that refugee rights should not be relative or time-barred.
The approved law now removes the strict 12-month limit and replaces it with the extended 24-month window for displaced persons and refugees seeking interest subsidies.
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