Filenews 5 December 2025 - by Fanis Makridis
The benefits or super-privileges to departing presidents of the Republic of Cyprus and the Parliament, respectively, bring back to the fore bad practices of the past.
"F", in his attempt to shed light on the whole issue, contacted various persons, who from their position are in a position to know the bad practices of the past. Testimony we received from a reliable source is that even invoices from car washes are said to have ended up in a competent service of the State.
In other words, a former high official, on the basis of the legislation, considered that the costs for washing the vehicle granted to him by the Republic for his movements after his departure from office, fell within the costs of maintaining the car covered by the taxpayer.
It is noted that based on the current legislation that is being attempted to be regulated after the submission of three relevant Law proposals (by Annita Demetriou, Stavros Papadouris and Alexandra Attalidou), the following are provided: "It is understood that the concession and use of an official vehicle by a beneficiary includes its maintenance and supply with the necessary motor fuels".
But what is the picture that exists in relation to the benefits of former and current officials? According to documents submitted to the Parliament in January 2024 by the Ministries of Finance and Transport, respectively, within the previous 20 years, about €2 million was granted just to have the services of a secretary and to maintain official vehicles (along with the costs for fuel and their maintenance).
The documents presented by "F" in this publication and which were the subject of parliamentary scrutiny in 2024, leave no doubt about the truth. Specifically, in the past 20 years, the Republic of Cyprus has allocated approximately €1.5 million as a private secretary's allowance for the five living former Presidents of the Republic and the House of Representatives. This fund was paid to the aforementioned from the period they left their highest office until the end of 2023. In 2023, the fund amounted to €39,089 for each.
Another amount close to €500,000 has been allocated by the state coffers for their cars and their maintenance.
Secretary allowance of €1.5 million.
All former top officials, i.e. Giorgos Vassiliou, Giannakis Omirou, Marios Karoyan, Dimitris Syllouris and Nicos Anastasiadis, within the last 20 years and since the time of their departure from the office they held, have received a total of €1,458,744 as a private secretary allowance, according to a letter from the Ministry of Finance drawn up in January 2024.
Of these five, only two have been registered as employers with the Social Insurance Department.
In detail, the amounts they received through a relevant statement of the Ministry of Finance prepared in January 2024:
>> Giorgos Vassiliou – From 1/1/2004 : €709,352
>> Giannakis Omirou – From 1/6/2016: €279,338
>> Marios Carroyan – From 1/11/2011: €364,397
>> Dimitris Syllouris – From 1/4/2021: €64,865
>> Nicos Anastasiades – From 1/3/2023: €20,396
The cars
The total amount spent on the purchase and maintenance of vehicles used by these former officials amounts to €477,695. Of course, it should be clarified that the car used by Nicos Anastasiades (€44,538) belongs to the Presidential Palace and was temporarily made available to him. The first vehicle used by Mr. Karoyan (€30,007) was from the Police and was made available until he bought a new car.
>> Nicos Anastasiadis: €51,708 for a vehicle (2009 – Mercedes S450) and its maintenance. Of course, it should be clarified that this car (€44,538) belongs to the Presidential Palace and was temporarily made available to him.
>> Marios Karoyan: €116,580 for two vehicles (2009 – Mercedes E500, 2015 – Audi A6) and their maintenance. It should be clarified that the first vehicle used by Mr. Karoyan (€30,007) was that of the Police and was made available until he bought a new car.
>> Giannakis Omirou – €77,270 for a vehicle (2015 – Audi A6) and its maintenance.
>> Dimitris Syllouris – €38,114 for a vehicle (2008 – BMW 523i) and its maintenance.
In addition, a person close to Giorgos Vassiliou, speaking yesterday to "F", said that the former top official of the Republic used the services of a secretary because he wrote two books, one about the Presidency and one about the accession of Cyprus to the European Union.
"When his work was completed, there was no need for secretarial services and he made sure that they were terminated," he explained to us. He also told us that he has been keeping the same official vehicle for at least 15 years. In addition, he told us that there is now only one police officer in his protection. "He had two police officers for his personal safety, however, for years now he has only one," he told us.
Besides, as it became known through official data in November 2024, 20 members of the Police are seconded to the personal guards of the former President of the Republic, Nicos Anastasiades, the former President, Giorgos Vassiliou, as well as the former Presidents of the Parliament, Giannakis Omirou, Marios Karoyan and Dimitris Syllouris. Specifically: Giorgos Vassiliou – 1 police officer, Nikos Anastasiadis – 13 police officers, Giannakis Omirou – 2 police officers, Dimitris Syllouris – 2 police officers, Marios Karoyan – 2 police officers.
In a discussion in the parliamentary committee on Institutions at the end of January 2024, it was reported that Marios Karoyan does not receive a travel allowance, nor a secretarial services allowance. At the same meeting, it was also clarified that Mr. Karoyan does not receive a pension of a former Speaker of the Parliament. In addition, Mr. Omirou (note: 2011-2016 he was President of the Parliament), although in 2014, following the opinion of the Legal Service, was notified by the General Accounting Office that he could also receive a MP's pension at the same time, he nevertheless renounced it.
