Reactions in Parliament to Registration of Disability Organizations as Lobbyists

Strong reactions were voiced in the Parliamentary Committee on Institutions regarding the requirement for Ministries and Deputy Ministries to register organizations for people with disabilities in the lobbyist registry in order to meet with Ministers.

AKEL MP Aristos Damianou submitted a bill to exempt organizations for people with disabilities, as is the case for trade unions and human rights organizations. DIKO MP Zacharias Koulias called the treatment of people with disabilities as lobbyists unacceptable.

OSAK spokesperson Dimitris Lambrianidis expressed his opposition to equating people with disabilities with lobbyists and the lack of willingness for dialogue from the Ministers. The government request requires minutes to be kept for each meeting, a process that usually concerns companies and business interests. It was mentioned in Parliament that disability organizations are staffed by volunteers.

Source: RIK Radio