There are hundreds of government officials and politically exposed persons who fall under the provisions of the legislation on the “Declaration of Assets,” with the requirements for submitting asset declarations varying depending on their status. At the same time, the collection of administrative fines imposed by the Three-Member Council on those who fail to comply with the law remains a “headache” for the authorities.
Speaking on the Alpha News program, Doros Ioannidis, Chairman of the Three-Member Council on the Declaration of Assets of Politically Exposed Persons, explained the framework governing the submission of asset declarations, the verification process, and the changes brought about by the new legislation, as well as the procedures followed in cases of non-compliance.
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Who is required to file a declaration
Mr. Ioannidis clarified that the legislation enforced by the Three-Member Council differs from that governing the asset declarations of members of Parliament, ministers, and other government officials, which are reviewed through the procedure established by the House of Representatives.
The scope of the Three-Member Council’s legislation includes, among others, general directors, elected local government officials, mayors, community council presidents, party leaders, and the Chief of Police. Under the new legislation, the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General were added to the list.
The list of persons subject to disclosure is not static, as it may change depending on legislative changes and the positions included in the relevant provisions at any given time.
Two Annexes and a Different Publication Procedure
One of the most significant changes is the division of those subject to the requirement into two appendices. The second appendix includes individuals whose asset declarations are made public, in accordance with the provisions of the law.
These specific declarations must be submitted to the Tax Commissioner within 30 days so that an audit can be conducted. Subsequently, the data is returned to the Council, which reviews the findings, invites the parties concerned to provide their input where necessary, and proceeds with the procedures prescribed by law, including disclosure.
Doros Ioannidis reported that, a meeting has taken place with the Tax Commissioner, during which issues concerning the financial disclosures of officials of local government and district self-government organizations were discussed.
When must the declarations be submitted?
According to Mr. Ioannidis, the law stipulates a four-month deadline for submitting a declaration, starting from the day the relevant position is assumed. A similar obligation and deadline apply to individuals who leave their positions. He noted that, due to changes that have taken place in quasi-governmental organizations and other entities, a process for submitting declarations was underway, with a deadline, as he stated, in early December.
Special mention was also made of non-parliamentary parties, as well as their leaders who are not members of the House of Representatives. As he explained, the obligation to file a declaration is not automatically waived when a person subsequently assumes another political office and is subject to a different vetting process.
Even when a party gains parliamentary representation, its leader, who is not a member of parliament, continues to be subject to the relevant provisions of the law, provided that the prescribed conditions are met.
Mr. Ioannidis refrained from naming individuals who may still be within the filing deadline, citing personal data concerns.
Uncollected Fines
The discussion also focused on the issue of penalties for those who fail to file the required declarations. Doros Ioannidis noted that the Council has imposed a significant number of fines, though these have not been fully collected. “We have imposed a great many fines, but they have not been fully collected,” he noted.
As he explained, the Three-Member Council is not responsible for collecting the fines. Its role is to identify violations and impose the prescribed penalties, while the collection of these fines must follow the procedure set forth by law, through the Legal Service. At the same time, he noted that the provision for additional monthly fines has also been activated in cases of continued noncompliance.
The issue of debt collection, as he noted, was also the subject of recent discussions with the European Parliament’s GRECO Committee, with the aim of finding a way to more effectively implement the relevant provisions.
“Name and shame” for those who do not comply
In addition to financial penalties, the public disclosure of the names of those who fail to meet their obligations is also considered an important tool. The Three-Member Council’s website includes a list of officials and public figures who have not submitted a declaration of assets.
The Council President emphasized the importance of public disclosure, noting that it can serve as a deterrent for those who do not comply with the law. As he noted, publicly disclosing non-compliance serves as an additional means of pressure, particularly for individuals who seek to maintain a public image of transparency.
SEE ALSO: A Declined “Declaration of Assets”: The Rich and Poor Among Members of Parliament
