71 former officials are receiving two or three pensions each. Cyprus will allocate €5.4 million for these benefits.

Pensions for politicians and high-ranking officials in Cyprus cost the state millions of euros. As many as 71 former government officials receive more than one public benefit, and some receive two or even three pensions simultaneously. Another 26 serving ministers, members of parliament, and commissioners receive pensions in addition to their current salaries and allowances.

The Cyprus budget for 2026 has allocated €5.4 million for pensions of current and former public officialsThe disclosed data also shows that 17 former MPs who did not run for another term or were not re-elected were paid a total of almost €4 million in tax-free one-off benefits.

Where do two or three pensions come from?

A person who has held positions subject to different pension provisions at different stages of their career may receive multiple benefits. Unless specific laws impose restrictions, each position may entitle them to a separate pension.

For example, someone could first work as a civil servant, then become a mayor, and then a member of parliament. After meeting the appropriate requirements, they could obtain:

• civil servant's pension,
• mayor's pension,
• parliamentary pension.

The basis for such payments is, among other things, Article 24 of the Cypriot Pensions Act of 1997. It provides special entitlements for employees leaving the public administration to take up a position that is incompatible with their current position.

Up to 7,201 euros in pension per month

Data on the benefits was provided by Andreas Antoniades, Chief Accountant of the Republic of Cyprus. The amounts depend on the position held and the length of the term.

The amounts provided reflect benefits accrued after a specified period of service. This does not mean that the current president receives both a presidential salary and a pension for serving in the same position.

Almost 4 million euros for 17 former MPs

The amount of one-off benefits paid to parliamentarians who did not return to the House of Representatives after the elections is particularly controversial.

In total, 17 former MPs received almost €4 million in tax-free severance payThis amounts to an average of around €235,000 per person, although the actual amounts depended on the number of terms and individual entitlements.

Individuals over the age of 60 could also begin receiving a parliamentary pension. Following a change in regulations, the starting age for payments for MPs and ministers was raised to 65, but the new rules apply to the parliament elected in May 2026.

The Minister may be entitled to three benefits

Minister of Labor Marinos Mousiouttas is cited as an example of someone covered by such a scheme. He receives a pension based on his previous service as Nicosia's municipal secretary. His parliamentary and ministerial terms, however, may create further pension entitlements after leaving office.

Averof Neofytou is also entitled to pensions under three different titles – former mayor, MP, and minister. However, the politician has instructed him to donate his benefits to charitable organizations.

AKEL Secretary General Stefanos Stefanou has taken a similar approach. Former Auditor General Odysseas Michaelides has also waived his pension.

The system sparks discussion again

The possibility of combining multiple benefits and collecting a pension while holding another paid office has long been controversial in Cyprus. The issue concerns not only the amount of individual pensions, but primarily the overlapping of entitlements under different laws.

The disclosed data shows the scale of the phenomenon: 71 former public officials receive more than one pension, and 26 current government officials combine the benefit with their current salary.

All these payments are financed from the state budget, which has allocated EUR 5.4 million for this purpose for 2026.

Sources: Politis, Alpha Cyprus, General Accounting Office of the Republic of Cyprus.