Marios Hartsiotis assumed duties on Wednesday as Cyprus’ new Justice Minister, pledging to continue his predecessor Anna Koukkides-Prokopiou’s work on the judicial reform, as well as modernising the penitentiary system and strengthening citizens’ sense of security.
At the handover ceremony at the Justice Ministry following Hartsiotis’ swearing in earlier in the day in a ceremony at the Presidential Palace, outgoing Prokopiou, giving an account of what has been achieved during her 10-month stint as Minister, said she was proud since, within only 10 months, they managed to immediately implement within 2023 or launch for implementation within 2024, 70% of the five-year programme announcements of the new Government that are under the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice and Public Order.
Prokopiou wished every success to her successor and to the Government, and reassured him that she will be by his side for whatever he needs.
Hartsiotis thanked the President of the Republic ‘for the high and honourable p
osition’ he was appointed to.
He also thanked Prokopiou and noted that he has seen tangible results during the 10-month period when she was Minister, in the field of Justice, a field which, he said, he has known firsthand for 35 years. Hartsiotis, a lawyer by profession, said that he would continue Prokopiou’s work with the aim to complete the judicial reform.
He noted that he will also proceed with the modernisation of the penitentiary system, and will work towards strengthening citizens’ sense of security.
Permanent Secretary of the Justice Ministry, Dr Louis Panayi, thanked Prokopiou on behalf of all the staff of the Ministry and wished her all the best in her new career. He also welcomed the new Minister and wished him every success in the difficult task he is undertaking, and assured him that he and the staff of the Ministry will support his efforts to promote Government policies for the benefit of society.
Hartsiotis, takes over as Justice Minister of the Nikos Christodoulides administration followi
ng a Government reshuffling, announced on Monday. The reshuffling saw also a change at the helm of the Health, Defence and Agriculture Ministries, and the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy.
The President also appointed a new Environment Commissioner, after the previous one was appointed as Agriculture Minister, a new Commissioner for the Citizen and a new Commissioner for the development of mountainous areas.
Source: Cyprus News Agency