In Cyprus, 71 former officials receive more than one state pension
In Cyprus, 71 former state and elected officials receive more than one state pension, while some are entitled to as many as three payments after serving in different positions. This was reported by Cyprus Mail, citing data from Accountant General Andreas Antoniades.
The state budget for this year allocates €5.4 million for pensions for current and former officials. Another 26 serving officials, including ministers, MPs and commissioners, receive a monthly pension in addition to their salary and allowances.
Payments to serving officials
According to data Antoniades presented to Alpha TV, President Nikos Christodoulides receives a monthly pension of €7,201. His net monthly salary is €9,103, while the tax-free lump-sum payment for one presidential term amounts to €403,237.
Speaker of the House of Representatives Annita Demetriou receives €2,327 per month after one term and €4,117 after two. Ministers, deputy ministers and government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis are entitled to a pension ranging from €1,168 after 30 months of service to €3,358 for two full terms.
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Accrual rules
Entitlement to such payments stems from the 1997 pensions law. It allows a public-sector employee to retire in order to take up a position incompatible with the previous one, while receiving payments for prior service without the usual minimum requirement of five years of employment. The Cabinet of Ministers may also award an additional pension in an amount it considers fair.
MPs and religious representatives receive pensions ranging from €1,618 to €4,449 per month depending on the number of terms. Their net monthly salary is €5,286, with another €685 provided as a transport allowance. Members of independent commissions are awarded pensions ranging from €1,407 to €2,058 depending on their length of service and position level.
Seventeen former MPs who did not run again or lost their mandates in May received nearly €4 million in tax-free lump-sum payments. Some of them are also entitled to a pension upon reaching the age of 60. A recent legislative change raised the pension eligibility age for MPs and ministers to 65, but it applies to the newly elected House of Representatives.
