The leak from the House of Representatives of a confidential document regarding the purchase of an armored limousine at a total cost of hundreds of thousands of euros by the Republic of CyprusRepublic of Cyprus for the needs of the Presidency raises serious questions.
The issue of the leak was raised by the President of the Republic himself, Nikos Christodoulides, in remarks he made from Menoiko on Saturday at noon. The President made it clear that he had not been informed of the intention to purchase the vehicle and that he learned of it this morning through press reports.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
“This was certainly a deliberate leak from the House of Representatives—since that is where the recipient was, as I saw in today’s reports—with the obvious aim of undermining the President of the Republic. My message is that such actions undermine the credibility of all of us who are currently participating in the public life of this country. And while some may 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.”
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Nikos Christodoulides emphasized that no President should be privy to security matters, nor about matters concerning how the relevant state agencies decide to proceed to ensure certain issues are addressed.
The questions, the budget, and the specifications
However, according to reports, no decision has been made to purchase a vehicle worth €595,000. According to the same sources, this amount refers to the budget allocation, for which the House of Representatives is being asked to approve the release of funds. The actual purchase price will be determined by the process that follows and by negotiations with suppliers.
A well-informed source states that this involves a replacement and not an expansion of the Presidential fleet. The source clarifies that the current primary armored vehicle was manufactured in 2017, purchased in 2019, and has now covered more than 250,000 kilometers. This is a vehicle with special specifications, significantly heavier and subject to correspondingly greater wear and tear compared to a conventional car.
It appears that with the acquisition of the new vehicle, the 2010 armored vehicle—which is currently used as a backup—will be fully retired. The current primary vehicle will be reassigned to a backup role, and the new one will become the Presidency’s primary vehicle. Therefore, according to the same sources, no additional vehicle is being added to the fleet.
The existence of a backup armored vehicle does not serve the personal needs of the current President, these sources state, as “it constitutes a functional and operational necessity for the state,” particularly during visits by heads of state and other distinguished guests to the Republic of Cyprus, when an armored vehicle may be required for security reasons.
At the same time, it is clarified that the vehicle is being purchased for the office of the President of the Republic and constitutes state property. In other words, it is not being purchased for the individual currently holding the office.
As for the specifications, according to reports, indicative quotes have been requested from manufacturers capable of producing right-hand-drive vehicles with factory-installed and certified armor. The goal is not to select a specific brand, but to ensure compliance with specific safety, reliability, and functionality specifications.
The same sources note that it should also be taken into account that the previous purchase in 2019 took place under favorable conditions. The existing vehicle had an initial value of approximately €350,000 and was ultimately acquired for approximately €260,000 because it had already been manufactured for a previous order that was not completed. Consequently, as it appears, that price does not serve as a reliable basis for comparison with a new factory order today.
Given that car prices have risen significantly from 2019 to the present, the process must first be completed and the final bids obtained. Sources emphasize that this precisely confirms the need for the planned process: to ensure that funding is available, that actual bids are received, that negotiations take place, and that the best possible price is secured for the state.
As all indications suggest, this is not about “purchasing a €595,000 luxury limousine for the President,” but rather the planning to replace an armored vehicle of the Republic of Cyprus that has exceeded 250,000 kilometers, with the simultaneous decommissioning of the older vehicle, without increasing the fleet, and with the final price to be determined through the procurement process and negotiations.
