Controversy over government plan to purchase new armored presidential vehicle

The Cypriot government has faced public and political scrutiny following the leaked information regarding a plan to purchase a new armored limousine for President Nikos Christodoulides. The proposed budget for the vehicle is set at €595,000, a sum officially intended to cover the security needs of both the President and high-ranking foreign officials visiting the country. The Department of Electromechanical Services stated that the procurement process relies on technical and objective criteria, noting that the current official vehicle, in service since 2017, has exceeded 250,000 kilometers and no longer meets necessary security standards.

Initially, President Christodoulides claimed he was unaware of the purchase plan, leading to allegations of populism and lack of transparency from opposition parties like AKEL. The government later issued a clarification, stating the President was aware of the procurement initiative but was not personally involved in the technical specifications, which were classified as confidential. Despite the political fallout, the parliamentary Committee on Finance has approved the release of the funds. The procurement procedure will now proceed through a tender process, with the new vehicle expected to be delivered within approximately 12 months from the start of the official order.