Annita Demetriou has submitted a bill that significantly limits the benefits granted to former Presidents of the Republic and former Speakers of the House, despite the fact that she herself will be directly affected by the changes.
Two months ago, the Speaker of the House, Annita Demetriou, turned 40. Under the current legislation, introduced in the 1980s, she would automatically qualify for the benefits and privileges afforded exclusively to former Presidents of the Republic and former Speakers if she is not re-elected next May. These privileges, which the public sees as highly provocative, are granted for life.
Specifically, former Presidents are entitled to: a state limousine with all expenses paid by the state, a personal secretary with a salary of up to €3,000 per month, bodyguards and a driver who is a police officer. According to the existing legislation, these benefits “lock in” after 30 months of service in office and apply for life. However, Ms Demetriou has submitted a bill, to be discussed today at the House Institutions Committee, which abolishes lifetime benefits for former Presidents and former Speakers and introduces conditions and prerequisites for their allocation. She has also requested that her proposal be forwarded for voting as soon as possible, provided that it secures majority support.
What Annita Proposes
More specifically, the bill submitted by the Speaker, Annita Demetriou, provides:
Provision of an official vehicle: It will be granted only during the first five years after leaving office as President of the Republic or Speaker of the House.
Secretarial services: Former Presidents will be entitled to secretarial support on the condition that the staff’s work is demonstrably used for this purpose. A contract will be signed, with the salary determined by the Council of Ministers. Former Presidents may, if they wish, choose a secretary from the public service.
Security and protection services: These will be provided following an assessment of each former President’s circumstances by the Minister of Justice, upon recommendation from the Chief of Police. The decision will be made by the Council of Ministers and the duration of these services will be limited to three (3) years at a time, after which a reassessment will be required.
Attalidou’s Proposal
At today’s meeting of the House Institutions Committee, the bill submitted by Volt Cyprus MP Alexandra Attalidou will also be examined alongside the Speaker’s proposal. It provides:
Abolition of lifetime benefits for former Presidents of the Republic and former Speakers of the House.
Benefits such as the use of a limousine and the allowance for a personal secretary will be granted only during the first five years after they leave office.
For the employment of a secretary, the proposed salary scale is A2–A5–A7, instead of the First-Class Stenographer position provided under current law, which pushes the salary to €3,000 monthly. In addition, the secretary’s salary will be paid directly by the Treasury of the Republic and not through the former official.
When former Presidents request from the Minister of Justice the allocation of protection or an increase in existing security measures, a decision by the Council of Ministers will be required, specifying the duration of those measures and their reassessment. It is also provided that this decision must be communicated to Parliament for information.
A Call for Full Abolition
Also on today’s agenda is a third bill, submitted by the President of the Green Party, Stavros Papadouris. In contrast to the other two proposals, this one calls for the complete abolition of the benefit of using a limousine, as well as the monthly secretary allowance of €3,000.
The Greens’ position in favour of abolishing these benefits is longstanding. Giorgos Perdikis had repeatedly attempted in the past to abolish them through amendments during state budget discussions by freezing the funds allocated for them. However, he did not succeed, as the major parties consistently opposed his efforts, politically targeting him and making him the “black sheep” of Parliament.
The 5 Beneficiaries Are Not Affected
Whichever bill is ultimately adopted cannot be applied retroactively. Otherwise, it would be considered unconstitutional, as it would abolish benefits already being provided. Therefore, the current beneficiaries will not be affected. They are five former Presidents of the Republic and former Speakers of the House: George Vassiliou, Nicos Anastasiades, Marios Karoyian, Yiannakis Omirou and Demetris Syllouris.
What Applies in Europe?
As part of the examination of the three bills, MP Alexandra Attalidou asked the parliamentary services to collect information on the benefits granted to former senior state officials in other EU countries, such as Presidents, Vice Presidents, Prime Ministers and Speakers of Parliaments.
Twenty countries responded to Parliament’s request. The analysis showed that the issue of benefits for former state officials is regulated through specific legislation. However, the level of benefits, the type of privileges and their duration vary significantly from country to country.
What Parliament’s Research Revealed
Security for former officials:
In most countries — Bulgaria, France, Germany, Estonia, Spain, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia — the provision of personal protection is set by law. However, the duration varies. In Bulgaria, Latvia and Slovenia, protection is granted only for a limited period after leaving office. In Romania and Slovakia, protection is granted for life. In Estonia and Spain, security services are provided only to the extent deemed necessary.
Secretarial services:
In most countries — Belgium, Bulgaria, Estonia, Spain, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Finland — legislation provides former Presidents with office space, office equipment and support services such as secretarial and advisory staff. The duration usually corresponds to the time the former official held office, although differences in the level and type of benefits exist between countries.
Use of limousine:
In most countries, former Presidents have the right to use an official car with a driver and have fuel and maintenance costs covered. In Germany and Spain, they are also entitled to free travel on state land, sea and scheduled air transport.