Cypriot parliament debates major reform of the Legal Service

The House Standing Committee on Legal Affairs is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, to discuss the comprehensive reform of the Legal Service. The agenda includes over 40 legislative proposals aimed at separating the powers of the Attorney General, who currently holds a dual role as both the state’s legal advisor and lead public prosecutor. A central aspect of this reform is the establishment of an independent Office of the Public Prosecutor, which would assume all criminal prosecution duties, along with the introduction of judicial oversight for decisions regarding criminal charges.

This legislative overhaul is part of a modernization effort recommended by the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption body, GRECO, and the European Commission. It also fulfills a campaign pledge made by President Nikos Christodoulides. The committee faces a complex challenge in implementing these changes by the target date of early 2027, balancing the urgency of the reform against concerns over potentially creating a dysfunctional or overly complicated bureaucratic system. In addition to these legal reforms, the committee will address proposed changes to family law and is scheduled to conduct a visit to the prison department on Friday, October 2, 2026.