Parties approve presidential vehicle funding after public row

Local Nikos ChristodoulidesTop News Parties approve presidential vehicle funding after public row Proedriko Prosopsi 1 (2) Relevant News Parties approve presidential vehicle funding after public row 8 September 2026 Nine break-ins hit two Nicosia villages within hours 8 September 2026 Bill to legalise illegal boreholes, fines up to €3,000 8 September 2026 Eleftheria Paizanou 8 September 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber The majority of Cyprus’s parliamentary Finance Committee agreed on Monday to release €595,000 in funding for a new armoured presidential limousine, following 48 hours of public clashes between the government and political parties over the purchase. DISY, AKEL, ELAM, DIKO and Direct Democracy Cyprus (ADK) approved the funding after hearing explanations from Interior Ministry Director-General Elikkos Ilias, who also serves as acting Head of Public Administration of the Republic of Cyprus, and Budget Director Marios Hadjidamianou, but objected that the Finance Ministry’s letter on the matter had been classified as confidential. The closed session was attended only by MPs, the two officials, and Parliament staff authorised to handle classified matters. MPs received no information on the vehicle’s technical specifications. What the technocrats said According to information obtained by Phileleftheros, the officials told MPs that once the funds are released, the contract will go to one of three Cyprus-based companies that have previously supplied armoured vehicles to the state. They said the current vehicle needs replacing after covering more than 200,000 kilometres, with the backup vehicle currently in use an armoured car purchased in 2010 under then-President Demetris Christofias. The new limousine, they added, will not be electric or hybrid, as such vehicles cannot meet certain required specifications that only conventional vehicles fulfil. Negotiations with suppliers and delivery of the new limousine could take six to 12 months, they said, meaning President Christodoulides may not get to use it during his current term. The €595,000 budget represents the maximum available amount and covers the vehicle itself along with necessary parts and spares. Presidential Palace clarifies The Presidential Palace also stepped back on Monday, attributing to a wording error the President’s earlier statement that he “did not know” about the request for a new vehicle. Deputy government spokesman Yiannis Antoniou explained that the President’s comment referred specifically to the vehicle’s technical specifications, not to the funding request itself. Why the President chose to expose himself by claiming he was unaware of a Cabinet decision he himself had chaired was a question raised by AKEL MP Aristos Damianou. ELAM MP Marios Pelekanos said the cost was reasonable compared with the two previous presidential vehicle purchases, in 2019 and 2010. The President’s suggestion that the letter had leaked from Parliament was hasty and off the mark, DIKO MP Chrysis Pantelides said, noting that the letter had also been sent to the Transport Ministry and the Department of Electromechanical Services. ALMA MP Odysseas Michaelides said the technical and financial data, along with the maintenance costs of the current vehicle and its 2010 reserve, did not justify replacing it so soon.’ Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Nine break-ins hit two Nicosia villages within hours Bill to legalise illegal boreholes, fines up to €3,000 Former Othello cinema ruled dangerous, health hazard found inside Businesses rush to remove illegal solar panels before EAC checks Christodoulides, al-Sisi and Mitsotakis meet in El Alamein today Ayia Napa house fire damages storage shed and parked car Pension reform: three off-limits issues now back on the table Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.