MPs were apparently shocked to hear the government’s proposal that currently serving state officials would be allowed to continue to get a pension while still drawing a salary, it emerged on Tuesday.
The government proposal was heard a day earlier in parliament, where lawmakers were discussing a batch of bills aimed at tackling the controversial issue of state officials who receive a salary plus one or more pensions at the same time.
Explaining the government’s own proposal, an official with the finance ministry said that, going forward, state officials would voluntarily sign a written declaration waiving their right to multiple pensions. This proposal would be put forth in an upcoming meeting of the cabinet.
But what astounded MPs was the detail that the waiver would not apply to currently serving officials. In short, it was as if President Nikos Christodoulides had exempted both himself and his ministers from the proposed arrangement.
A number of officials – about 30 – continue drawing pensions for past service in the public sector.
Daily Politis said the president earns a net salary of €8,914 a month, while drawing a pension of €1,013 for his past service as a civil servant at the foreign ministry. This €1,013 pension kicked in on March 1, 2018 – the day he retired from the civil service to take up the post of foreign minister.
Moreover, this pension amount corresponds to his service up until the end of 2012. For his service from the end of 2012 to his retirement in March 2018, he’s entitled to another €300. The extra €300 will kick in once he reaches the age of 58, seven years from now.
As for the other officials, Finance Minister Makis Keravnos earns a €5,900 net salary in his current position, but in addition (according to his wealth declaration) he gets a combined €4,151 in pensions – one for his past service as minister plus another pension as a civil servant.
Education Minister Athena Michaelidou earns €5,900 in wages, plus a pension as a former civil servant – she used to be a teacher. The same holds for Irini Piki, a former civil servant and now the under-secretary to the president.
Other such beneficiaries include the Commissioner for Children’s Rights Despo Michaelidou, Law Commissioner Louisa Zanettou, ombudswoman Maria Stylianou-Lottides, and Transparency Commissioner Harris Poyatzis. The latter earns a salary of €6,215 plus a pension for his former service as a judge.
Beyond the state officials, eight MPs also pocket a civil servant’s pension in addition to their current wages. They are: Yiannakis Gavriel (Akel), Andreas Themistocleous (independent), Charalambos Theopemptou (Greens), Giorgos Karoullas (Disy), Marinos Moushiouttas (Dipa), Savia Orfanidou (Disy), Rita Superman (Disy) and Alekos Tryfonides (Dipa).
Two more MPs are entitled to a pension, but have waived it. One is Disy’s Onoufrios Koulla, a former civil servant.
The other is Disy’s Averof Neofytou. He’s entitled to two pensions – one as a former minister and one as a former mayor. Neofytou had served as the mayor of Polis from 1991 to 1996. Although technically he has not waived the two pensions, he does not keep the funds and instead shares them out among eight different charitable organisations.
