Protest against electricity prices in Cyprus. The march reaches the Presidential Palace.

Electricity prices in Cyprus were the reason for Saturday's protest in Nicosia. On October 17, participants marched from Freedom Square to the Presidential Palace, where they delivered a letter to President Nikos Christodoulides. They demanded cheaper energy, consumer support, and changes to the way the market operates.

The demonstration was organized by the Direct Democracy movement, led by MEP Fidias Panayiotou. The demands include a 5% VAT rate on electricity, the development of energy storage facilities, and greater billing transparency. These are the demands of the organizers, not the announced changes to regulations or new subsidy rules.

The protest in Nicosia was also supported by other parties

The march began in the center of the capital and ended in front of the president's office. Police secured the route and organized traffic.

AKEL, the Ecologist Movement, and the Animal Party also expressed support for the demonstration. AKEL MEP Giorgos Georgiou, among others, attended the gathering.

In a letter to the president, the organizers presented electricity and fuel as essential goods for everyday life. They argued that their cost limits households' resources and hinders the operations of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Electricity prices in Cyprus: figures quoted by organizers

The authors of the letter cited Cystat data, indicating a 15% increase in energy prices between August 2025 and August 2026. They also cited an example of a bill for 1,000 kWh, which could reach €295.

These data and examples are presented in the protesters' document. They don't mean that every household's bill increased by exactly 15%, nor that all customers will pay the same amount for the same consumption. The tariff, billing period, taxes, and applicable subsidies also play a role.

What are the protesters demanding?

The demands concern both the rapid relief of consumers and investments that would reduce costs in the long term.

5% VAT on electricity is not prohibited in advance

This tax proposal requires important clarification. The EU minimum of 15% applies to the standard VAT rate, but the law also allows for reduced rates.

Electricity supplies are listed in Annex III of the EU VAT Directive, which covers goods and services that can be subject to reduced rates. Therefore, there is no basis for considering the proposed 5% VAT on electricity to be automatically inconsistent with EU law.

However, this does not mean that the rate has been adopted in Cyprus. Its implementation would require appropriate national decisions and consideration of regulatory conditions.

The money from the issue has a specific purpose

The organizers also want to use the proceeds from emissions trading to support consumers and modernize the grid.

According to the European Commission, countries must allocate these revenues—or the corresponding financial value—for climate and energy purposes. These include grid development, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and helping low-income households transition.

Therefore, all support for households cannot be deemed unlawful. The legality of a specific program depends on its design and legal basis.

What does the protest mean for residents?

The submission of the letter does not change the amount of the bills or their due dates. Reports from the demonstration did not present a new decision by the authorities to accept the demands.

This, however, should not be confused with the lack of prior aid measures. CYPRNews previously reported on the anti-price package approved at the end of September, which also included energy support.

Saturday's protest was a call for broader and more lasting solutions. It will now be important for the audience to determine which proposals will receive a response from the authorities, specific financing principles, and a timeline for implementation.