The Parliament launched proceedings against the Central Bank Governor, following a decision taken at the meeting of the party leaders on the potential misinformation or concealment of the mandate of Alvarez & Marsal.

House President, Yiannakis Omirou said it was decided that the matter will be dealt with by the House Institutions Committee.

By virtue of Article 7 of the law governing the submission of data and information to the Parliament, if the Institutions Committee forms an opinion whether the evidence submitted with the mandate of Alvarez & Marsal by the CB Governor was false or concealed the true data, or the requested documents were not submitted making it difficult for the Committee to work, the Committee shall report to the plenary.

According to the law, the plenary after examining in a closed session the report of the Committee, it will either refer it to the Attorney General for typesetting disciplinary offenses, or if for reasons of public interest, the report will be referred back to the Attorney General or the House, it will proceed to setting up a committee of inquiry.

In the law there is a provision for criminal offenses when dealing with the second case.

The House President clarified that the Institutions Committee will need technocratic help. The inquiry Committee will be composed of MPs.

Next Tuesday, the House Institutions Committee will meet to launch the proceedings for the examination of the issue.

According to Mr. Omirou, the committee will examine the correspondence between the House and Governor, the findings and conditions of A & M investigation as well as any other information sent to Parliament by the CB.

He noted that the Institutions Committee will decide whether the session will be attended by the Governor.

The Law

Among others, the law provides that the House Committees have the power to require information in written or verbally from the legal persons and the public law organizations.

Also, independent officers, public officials or private individuals when appearing to the committees must submit the true facts and not to deny or conceal public or private documents.

“Testifying before the House committee false data or concealing the truth or refusing to appear before or arraign the requested documents is a criminal offense of contempt of parliament, punishable with imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of 300 pounds or both penalties. "

Under the law, following the formation of an opinion of the Committee and the preparation of a report, which will be discussed in a closed session, it will be referred to the Attorney General to decide whether there are disciplinary offenses or an inquiry committee will be set up.

In accordance with the provisions of the law, the inquiry committee has the authority to request the submission of documents, to summon and examine witnesses under oath or affirmation for consideration of criminal proceedings.

Upon completion of the work, it provides the evidence to the plenary.

Indeed, if the outcome of the committee is exculpatory, any further action is stopped, otherwise the parliament decides in a secret and special session, whether under the circumstances it is appropriate to promote the public interest or not.

"If the parliament decides that the public interest requires further promotion of the issue, the findings are forwarded to the Attorney General who ultimately decides to prosecute or not”.

Outflows not to be released

Regarding the list of outflows, the House President said its release is out of question.

He clarified that the data are available only for reading by MPs, not for copy or for photocopy.

The Green Party MP George Perdikis asked for the release of the list.

At the meeting of the party leaders, the ecologists requested the ratification of the loan agreement and the memorandum by the plenary.

The Ecologists and EDEK were positive while the other parties reserved to state their opinion tomorrow.