President Nikos Christodoulides has said he was unaware that the Council of Ministers, which he chairs, approved the purchase of a new €595,000 armoured limousine for his use. Now that he is aware of the decision, a simple question arises: will he ask for the purchase to be cancelled?
The issue is expected to be discussed during a closed-door meeting of the House Finance Committee, where MPs will examine a request from the Ministry of Finance to release funds for the acquisition of the vehicle.
The proposed limousine would feature modern security and technology systems and would also be used to transport visiting heads of state.
Following Politis' disclosure of the planned purchase last Saturday, Christodoulides maintained that he had not been aware of it, arguing that matters relating to his security do not necessarily have to be brought to his attention.
However, a confidential Ministry of Finance document sent to parliament for information purposes and revealed by Politis indicates that the purchase was approved by the Council of Ministers on 16 July 2026, a meeting chaired by the President himself.
According to the document, the proposal was submitted to the cabinet by the Electromechanical Services Department through the Ministry of Transport.
Following the public reaction to the proposed purchase, attention has now shifted to whether Christodoulides will request the withdrawal of the government's application to parliament for the release of the funds.
The vehicle currently used by the President is also armoured. It was purchased in 2019, during the administration of former president Nicos Anastasiades, at a cost of €258,000 plus VAT.
That vehicle replaced the armoured limousine used by the late former president Demetris Christofias, which was purchased in 2010 for €291,000 plus VAT.
MPs to seek answers
Members of the House Finance Committee are expected to seek explanations on several issues, including:
- Why a new armoured limousine costing €595,000 is considered necessary.
- How the vehicle will be selected and procured.
- Whether the President's security requirements could be met with a less expensive armoured vehicle.
The committee's discussion is expected to determine whether the funding request proceeds or faces further scrutiny from MPs.
