resident Nikos Christodoulides has described the disclosure of plans to purchase a new armoured presidential limousine as a deliberate leak intended to damage him, saying he was not aware of the proposed purchase until he read about it in the press.
Speaking to journalists in Meniko on Saturday, Christodoulides said he had learned about the planned acquisition that morning.
“I was informed this morning by the press about this intention to purchase it. I did not know anything about it,” he said.
The planned purchase was approved by the Cabinet on July 16, 2026, following a decision by the Ministry of Transport’s Electromechanical Services to proceed with the acquisition.
President says security decisions are made by state services
Christodoulides said it was not necessary for a president to be aware of every decision relating to his security, stressing that the competent state services were responsible for such matters.
“No president should have to know about security matters, about how the competent state services decide to proceed to ensure certain issues,” he said.
He argued that similar arrangements were followed in other countries, saying he was certain that the prime ministers or presidents of Greece, Israel, Egypt and France would not necessarily be aware of comparable security decisions.
‘Deliberate’ leak from Parliament
The President also questioned the circumstances in which details of the planned purchase became public.
“Certainly, there was a deliberate leak from the House of Representatives because that was the recipient,” he said, adding that he believed the aim was to target him personally.
Christodoulides said such actions could undermine confidence in public life more broadly.
“My message is that through such actions they undermine the credibility, in general, of all of us who temporarily participate in the public life of the country,” he said.
He warned that those responsible for such leaks could ultimately face negative consequences themselves.
“If some believe that through such leaks they will 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 such a thing,” he said.
President recounts incident involving private car
Christodoulides also referred to his own approach to presidential security, recalling an occasion when he used his private vehicle while travelling with his young daughter.
He said he had wanted to have a private moment as a father but subsequently received serious criticism from those responsible for the security of the President of the Republic.
He stressed that their responsibility was not for the personal security of “Nikos Christodoulides”, but for the security of the office of President.
Christodoulides described attempts to attack the President over security arrangements as “populist” approaches, arguing that they could ultimately have the opposite effect to that intended.
More than 30 upgrades for Cyprus economy
The President also commented on the latest upgrade of Cyprus’ economy by an international rating agency, saying the number of upgrades had now exceeded 30.
He described the repeated upgrades as confirmation of the government’s economic policy and management of public finances.
At the same time, he stressed that economic growth must translate into tangible benefits for society.
These benefits, he said, should include higher disposable incomes and investment in healthcare, education, housing policy and the welfare state.
He placed particular emphasis on tax and pension reform, arguing that Cyprus’ economic position allowed the government to pursue policies aimed at increasing citizens’ disposable income.
Cyprus targets billions in EU funding
Christodoulides also linked Cyprus’ development prospects to the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028-34.
He said the government’s aim was to secure a political decision by the end of 2026 on the various European funds, beginning with the Cohesion Fund.
According to the President, Cyprus is expected to receive more than €2.5 billion, while national contributions could bring the total available for projects over the next seven years to around €3.5 billion.
The projects should be approved by the Cabinet no later than September 2027, he said.
Greek Cypriot side ready for expanded Cyprus talks
Turning to the Cyprus problem, Christodoulides said the Greek Cypriot side hoped the document recording areas of convergence would be ready by the arrival in Cyprus of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ Personal Envoy, Maria Angela Holguín.
The document should be provided to both sides and the guarantor powers, he said, with the aim of preserving the negotiating acquis if agreement is reached and paving the way for an expanded conference.
The objective would be to announce the resumption of negotiations on the basis of the existing convergences, with talks then focusing on the issues where differences remain.
Christodoulides said he was also due to meet the Turkish Cypriot leader during the week and reiterated that there was a significant degree of common understanding on substantive and methodological issues.
He also referred to his planned bilateral meeting with the UN Secretary-General during the UN General Assembly.
“We are ready on our side and I hope there will be the same political will, the same positive response from all the parties involved,” he said.
Cyprus, Greece and Egypt to meet in El Alamein
Christodoulides is also due to attend a trilateral summit between Cyprus, Greece and Egypt in El Alamein next Tuesday, which he described as important.
The agenda will include developments in the wider region and further strengthening trilateral cooperation between the three countries.
He said the three states also aimed to contribute to creating conditions for security and cooperation in a region of particular geopolitical importance.
The President also confirmed that he would attend the second European Union-Gulf Cooperation Council summit, scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia in October.
Asked whether the Mecca agreement would be discussed, he said that “certainly all developments in the region will be discussed”.
