Government requests funds for new presidential armored vehicle

The Cypriot Ministry of Finance has requested the parliamentary Committee on Finance to release €595,000 for the purchase of a new armored limousine for the Presidency. The request was submitted via a confidential letter dated August 24, 2026. This vehicle, intended for the use of President Nikos Christodoulides and visiting heads of state, will feature advanced security and technological specifications. The government decided to procure the vehicle during a cabinet meeting on July 16, 2026, opting for a direct negotiation with a local car dealership rather than initiating a public tender.

The parliamentary Committee on Finance is scheduled to discuss the requested funding in a closed session this coming Monday. The Ministry of Finance has declined to disclose the specific technical details of the vehicle in its letter to Parliament, citing the confidential nature of the required security and armor features.

This procurement follows the previous acquisition of an armored limousine in 2019, under the administration of Nicos Anastasiades, which was purchased for €258,000 plus VAT. That vehicle currently remains in use by President Christodoulides.