President Nikos Christodoulides will soon use a new armoured presidential limousine worth 595,000 euros, bought through direct negotiation with a car dealership in Cyprus rather than a public tender.
The Finance Ministry has asked Parliament’s Finance Committee to release the 595,000 euros needed to cover the cost of the vehicle for the Presidency. The Cabinet decided to procure the car at its meeting on July 16, and the committee is due to examine the request on Monday.
In its letter to Parliament, the ministry did not disclose the vehicle’s technical specifications, saying these include confidential security requirements, such as armour specifications, that cannot be made public.
Presidential limousines
Past presidential armoured vehicles were also bought through direct awards to specific companies. According to data submitted to Parliament as part of parliamentary oversight, Christodoulides currently uses an armoured limousine bought during the presidency of Nicos Anastasiades.
That vehicle replaced the armoured car used by former President Demetris Christofias, which was bought in 2010 for 291,000 euros plus VAT; Parliament was told at the time that its maintenance costs had reached 138,654 euros. The current vehicle, bought in 2019 for 258,850 euros plus VAT, is the one Christodoulides still uses today.
Rented for EU presidency
During Cyprus’s presidency of the EU Council, the Republic rented 12 armoured limousines to transport heads of state attending an informal summit of EU leaders in Cyprus, after the government sought quotes from car dealerships in Cyprus.
All 12 limousines were brought from Germany and leased for ten days at a cost of 140,000 euros, with the Republic paying 14,000 euros a day. Cyprus intends to seek reimbursement of the cost from the European Union.
Vehicles for officials
About two years ago, the state bought 35 electric and hybrid vehicles for use by state officials: 25 electric saloon cars, five electric all-terrain vehicles, and five hybrid plug-in vehicles, at a total cost of 1.65 million euros.
