Nicosia mayor Prountzos faces calls to resign in Cyprus — Cyprus Mail
In Nicosia, Cyprus, a committee representing traders and residents of the historic part of the city demanded the immediate resignation of Mayor Charalambos Prountzos amid a dispute over Makarios Avenue. This was reported by Cyprus Mail.
The day before, Prountzos told a delegation from the DISY party that the municipality had prepared proposals to revitalise Makarios Avenue. They are planned to be submitted to the city council for consideration in the coming weeks. The mayor expects support from the government and parliament, as any changes to the avenue require parliamentary approval.
Traders’ and residents’ complaints
The committee rejected the municipality’s approach and accused the mayor of improperly conducting public consultations on the reconstruction of pedestrian areas. Its representatives also said that Prountzos had allegedly used municipal funds to sign a contract with PwC worth tens of thousands of euros in order to “buy the outcome,” contrary to the position of small businesses and residents.
The committee also criticised the promotion of student dormitories being built in the city centre as a way to solve the area’s problems. Committee representatives said they saw no possibility of cooperation with the mayor and rejected all of his public and private positions.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Transport and EU funds
The dispute is linked to the €20 million Makarios Avenue reconstruction project, which was mainly financed through EU cohesion funds. The project was intended to restrict private car traffic and encourage travel by bicycle and public transport.
A joint platform of commercial district representatives claims that two-thirds of shops on the avenue are vacant and demands the restoration of two-way traffic on its southern section. Prountzos disputes these figures: according to municipal data, 70 out of 106 ground-floor premises are occupied, while only 16 out of 36 vacant properties are available on the market.
According to the mayor, the city council’s decision to allow private cars to travel along the avenue from 7:00 to 21:00 still needs to be approved by the police chief. The European Commission noted that nearly €21 million allocated for the reconstruction of Makarios and Stasikratous avenues as part of a broader €25 million programme was linked to sustainable mobility objectives. Changes incompatible with these conditions may be considered a violation, although any possible repayment of EU funds will be assessed individually.
