AKEL former MP Christos Christofias donates part of his parliamentary pension

Christos Christofias, a former Member of Parliament and Nicosia-Kyrenia District Secretary for the AKEL party in Cyprus, has publicly released a receipt confirming a donation of approximately €77,000. This amount represents 85% of his lump-sum parliamentary pension. The funds were donated to the 'Association for Collegial Support of the Popular Movement', an organization that provides financial assistance to retired former employees of the AKEL professional mechanism. Christofias stated that it is an obligation for outgoing AKEL MPs to contribute a portion of their lump-sum pension to this fund. He emphasized that the donation reflects the party's moral values and solidarity. The former MP noted that his action intends to counter public perceptions that politicians prioritize personal privilege and profit over service. By making this contribution, he aims to demonstrate that representatives enter parliament to give back rather than to gain personal wealth. This practice of donating a portion of the lump-sum pension is a established policy among AKEL's outgoing parliamentary members.