The Ministry of Finance is requesting that Parliament approve a budget allocation of 595,000 euros for the purchase of a new armored limousine for the Office of the President of the Republic. A letter published today by the press, of which the President of the Republic himself was informed, according to his own account. Nikos Christodoulides, visibly annoyed, sees the letter’s deliberate leak to the media, claiming he was unaware of the intention to purchase the limousine.
“No president should be privy to security matters or to how the relevant state agencies decide to proceed to ensure certain matters. And I am certain that neither the Prime Minister of Greece, nor the Prime Minister of Israel, nor the President of Egypt, nor the President of France is aware of this. This was certainly a deliberate leak from Parliament—since that’s where the recipient was, as I saw in today’s press reports—with the obvious aim of undermining the President of the Republic.”
Nikos Christodoulides – President of the Republic
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
AKEL
We would like to inform the President that the decision to purchase an armored vehicle was made by the Council of Ministers at its meeting on July 16, 2026, which he presided over. We regret that Mr. Christodoulides, instead of acting with transparency, chooses to make a spectacle of himself, thereby—unfortunately—underestimating the intelligence of the citizens.
The decision to purchase the armored limousine was made by the Ministry of Transportation, and according to the letter, funding for the relevant budget line was approved by the Cabinet on July 16. It was also decided not to issue a public tender but to follow a closed-door process, inviting specific vehicle dealerships in Cyprus that are capable of supplying the vehicle to submit bids. This is a procedure that has been used in the past.
Taking it a step further, the President of the Republic is sending a message in all directions, making it clear that such actions undermine the credibility of those who are temporarily involved in the country’s public affairs.
“If some people believe that such leaks will help them achieve their goals, I am certain that, at the end of the day, this will have a negative impact on those who took the initiative to do so. You know, when it comes to security and vehicle-related issues, this is something I often bring up with my colleagues.”
Nikos Christodoulides – President of the Republic
This vehicle is equipped with state-of-the-art safety and technological features and will be used not only for the President’s travels but also to transport heads of state visiting Cyprus.
“I once used my own car with my young daughter precisely because, as a father, I wanted to have that personal moment, and I received very serious criticism from those responsiblenot for the safety of Nikos Christodoulides but for the safety of the President of the Republic.”
Nikos Christodoulides – President of the Republic
The issue is expected to be discussed next Monday in a closed-door session of the House Finance Committee.
Watch the report by Nasia Ioannou:
