ALMA movement calls for audit mechanisms in the House of Representatives

On September 7, 2026, members of the ALMA movement, Odysseas Michaelides and Irene Charalambidou, formally requested the registration of an urgent item at the Parliamentary Committee on Institutions. The objective is to evaluate the status of internal control mechanisms regarding the financial autonomy of the House of Representatives. The deputies argue that despite a constitutional amendment passed in 2019 that granted the legislature financial independence, no effective internal audit system has been established to date, leaving a significant institutional gap seven years later.

According to the proponents, the 2019 amendment (Article 167) mandated that the House budget be a distinct part of the national budget, drafted by the President of the House. However, they assert that the legal framework for executing this budget and ensuring transparent fiscal management remains incomplete. The deputies emphasize that the House is still subject to external audits by the Audit Office, but they maintain that an internal mechanism is a prerequisite for the autonomy granted by the unanimous 2019 vote.

As a next step, the Committee on Institutions is expected to convene to discuss the proposal. The Minister of Finance will be invited to the session, as his cooperation is deemed essential for coordinating the necessary budgetary oversight and ensuring full transparency in parliamentary fiscal affairs.