In 1988 a law was approved that set out the benefits the president of the republic and president of the House of Representatives would enjoy when they retire. Apart from a big state pension, they would also be entitled to a state limo with chauffeur and an allowance to pay for secretarial services, which is currently €3,000. All expenses for the car – petrol and maintenance – are covered by the state as are the wages of the two policemen who have chauffeur duties (two eight-hour shifts).

There are currently five men enjoying these benefits – two former presidents and three House speakers – at a total cost to the taxpayer of about €700,000. Two fifths of the amount goes to the secretaries and cars and the rest covers the cost of the policemen. Although the amount is small and does not affect public finances in any way, it is an illustration of how politicians ensure maximum personal benefit for ‘serving the public.’ Deputies for example receive state pensions at age 60, twice as high as their years of service justifies, while their expenses allowance, on which they pay no income tax, is used in the pension calculation.

In the case of former presidents, the €3,000 per month for secretarial services is a form of lawful theft. They might use secretarial services a few weeks a year but they still collect €36,228 annually without paying any income tax on it. If it is not theft, it is very much a case of taking money under false pretenses, sanctioned by law, but nobody seems bothered, least of all the former presidents that are supposed to set an example for the rest of us. As for the all-expenses-paid limousine with chauffeurs, for life, it is a scandalous waste of the taxpayer’s money.

If the current president of the House, Annita Demetriou, does not get another term when she leaves her post, aged 40, she would be entitled to chauffeur-driven state car plus an allowance for secretarial services for about another 40 years. Does five years as speaker of the House justify such generosity on behalf of the state? By what reasoning has Dipa chief Marios Garoyian, currently a deputy, been entitled to these perks for 12 years now? Was serving as speaker for three years such a big contribution to public life that he is entitled to the above benefits for as long as he draws breath?

We should congratulate Volt Cyprus deputy Alexandra Attalides for attempting to put an end to these scandalous benefits. Last Friday Attalides submitted a bill that would place a time limit of five years on these benefits. As regards the secretarial allowance, under the proposed law, it would be paid directly to the secretary if the services of one are used and at a significantly lower rate than the current one.

Whether deputies pass this bill remains to be seen. It suffices to say that a bill envisaging the scrapping of these benefits, proposed by Giorgos Perdikis when he was a deputy, has been gathering dust at the legislature for years.