Govt. says “no” to Consumer Commissioner

Commerce Minister, Antonis Paschalides clarified on Tuesday that there is no need to introduce a Consumer Commissioner since the competent authorities do a lot to protect the consumers’ rights. The Minister urged the members of the House Commerce Committee to consent to the expansion of the competencies of the existing services, which seek to eliminate profiteering and high prices and to promote free competition.

Mr. Paschalides committed to submit new proposals that will possibly adopt certain recommendations of the Committee’s members.

“It is easy to say that it would be good to introduce a Consumers’ Commissioner at the same time that we are unaware of what the instructions would be, since he would be unable to intervene due to the European Union”, the Minister said.

The majority of the political parties favours the institution, while Chairman of the House Commerce Committee, Lefteris Christoforou urged the government to take decisions.

Mr. Christoforou also criticized the Commerce Ministry services for their failure to supervise the market sufficiently.

Similarly, EDEK MP, Giorgos Varnava said that the Consumers’ Commissioner would be a shield of protection for the consumers.

Finally, DIKO MP, Angelos Votsis is in favour of the institution.