Cyprus House President, Demetris Syllouris, has said that for parliaments to be fully engaged in 21st century policy making, closer links need to be established with the scientific community, academia and the pioneers of research and innovation.

Syllouris noted that it is more than ever vital for parliaments to be part of the decision-making process, to provide effective oversight and to ensure that after the COVID-19 health crisis subsides, the emergency measures introduced to address it are reviewed and if needed scaled down.

Addressing the Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament that took place via a virtual meeting, he presented a report on "Democracy and the changing role of parliament in the twenty-first century"

Syllouris said that the pandemic the entire world is today experiencing, has rewritten the international agenda, while at the same time is posing unprecedented challenges for parliaments and democracy around the planet.
 
"The report we have before us highlights the fundamental relation between parliaments and the people, which lays at the core of democratic governance and has to be regularly fostered and extended. As we move into the 21st century, it is imperative for parliaments to re-assert themselves vis-à-vis the global socioeconomic changes that form a new international reality, in order to adapt to the challenges of our century," he noted.

He said that the importance of fair and inclusive parliamentary procedures is crucial in this endeavour. In order to achieve the objective of promoting an interactive relationship with citizens, parliaments should introduce initiatives, which encourage participatory democracy and bolster pluralism. Such initiatives are best advanced through the use of new digital technologies, including blockchain technology, artificial intelligence and other innovative and transformative tools, he said.

Syllouris also noted that "our times require the establishment of permanent channels of dialogue and communication with the people. Responding to this call, the institution of `Parallel Parliaments` that was initiated at the Cyprus House of Representatives can act as an example, aiming primarily at developing an interactive relation with the public, in order to strengthen citizenship, participatory democracy, pluralism and transparency."

(CNA)