Court Overturns Fire Conviction, Pension Assurances Amid Bomb Attacks
Get European news in your inbox daily
A short daily digest of the whole continent — or just the countries you care about.
Check your email. We've sent a confirmation link — click it to complete your subscription.
In a significant legal development, the Court of Appeal has overturned a previous conviction in the fatal Arakapas fire case, acquitting the individual four years after the initial verdict. This decision has been highlighted as a triumph of justice, with one report noting the individual had 'lived 3 years with the stigma of injustice'.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Labour and Social Insurance, Marinos Mousiouttas, has provided assurances that planned pension reforms will not result in any cuts, instead promising increases for all pensioners, with potential raises ranging from 2% to 60%. This clarification follows earlier discussions and fears regarding potential reductions in social security payments. Separately, authorities are investigating a suspected bomb attack in Paphos that damaged a parked car, an incident which marks the second targeting of a 56-year-old in three months.
Other domestic news includes ongoing internal strife within the EDEK party, with Marios Hannidis expressing disinterest in managing its perceived decline as he runs for the party presidency. The investigative journalist Makarios Drousiotis, a parliamentary candidate for Volt Cyprus, continues to be at the center of a criminal investigation, with Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou stating that prosecutions will only occur if violations are found, and Drousiotis responding to the Minister's comments. Additionally, Larnaca anticipates early September for progress on its port and marina project, and a yellow warning has been issued for extreme heat, with temperatures expected to reach 40C.