A total of 71 former state and elected officials receive more than one public pension, with some collecting as many as three separate pensions after serving in different public offices or positions.
At the same time, 26 serving officials, including ministers, MPs and commissioners, receive a monthly pension in addition to their salaries and allowances.
The 2026 state budget provides a total of €5.4 million for pensions paid to current and former officials.
Pensions regardless of age
The possibility of receiving a pension regardless of age is provided for under the 1997 Pensions Law, specifically Article 24.
Under the provision, when a public or wider public sector employee retires in order to assume a public office that is incompatible with the position held in the public service, they are entitled, for their period of service, to:
- A pension under Article 8, without the requirement to have completed five years of service.
- An additional pension at a level deemed fair and appropriate by the Council of Ministers.
For the purposes of the article, the definition of an employee also includes anyone serving in the public service on a temporary or other non-permanent basis.
Presidential pension reaches €7,201 a month
According to figures presented by Accountant General of the Republic Andreas Antoniades to journalist Katia Savva during Alpha's midday programme Alpha Enimerosi, pension benefits for senior officials are as follows.
President of the Republic: €7,201 monthly pension. Gross annual pensionable earnings from January 1, 2026 amount to €172,815. The annual pension stands at €86,408, equivalent to €7,201 per month, while the tax-free lump sum for one term is €403,237. The President's net monthly salary after income tax is €9,103.
President of the House of Representatives: pension from €2,327. Gross annual pensionable earnings from January 1, 2026 amount to €137,459. The annual pension for one term is €27,921, or €2,327 per month, while the tax-free lump sum is €130,298. After two terms, the monthly pension rises to €4,117 and the tax-free lump sum to €230,529. The House President's net monthly salary after income tax is €7,403.
Minister, deputy minister and Government Spokesperson: pension from €1,168. Gross annual pensionable earnings from January 1, 2026 amount to €112,109. For 30 months in office, the annual pension amounts to €14,014, or €1,168 per month, while the tax-free lump sum is €65,399. For 60 months in office, the annual pension rises to €22,773, or €1,898 per month, with a tax-free lump sum of €106,274. For 120 months, equivalent to two terms, the annual pension reaches €40,290, or €3,358 per month, while the tax-free lump sum stands at €188,020. Their net monthly salary after income tax is €6,006.
MP and religious representative: pension from €1,618. Gross annual pensionable earnings from January 1, 2026 amount to €94,919. The pension for one term is €19,415 annually, or €1,618 per month, while the tax-free lump sum is €90,603. After two terms, the annual pension rises to €53,392, or €4,449 per month, while the tax-free lump sum reaches €249,163. Their net monthly salary after income tax is €5,286, plus a fixed €685 travel allowance, bringing the total to €5,971.
Chair of the Public Service Commission: €2,058 monthly pension. Gross annual pensionable earnings from January 1, 2026 amount to €137,170. The annual pension for one term is €24,691, or €2,058 per month, while the tax-free lump sum is €115,225. The net monthly salary after income tax is €7,171.
Members of the Public Service Commission: €1,532 monthly pension. Gross annual pensionable earnings from January 1, 2026 amount to €102,133. The annual pension for one term is €18,384, or €1,532 per month, while the tax-free lump sum is €85,792. Their net monthly salary after income tax is €5,470.
Chair of the Education Service Commission: €1,957 monthly pension. Gross annual pensionable earnings from January 1, 2026 amount to €130,445. The annual pension for one term is €23,480, or €1,957 per month, while the tax-free lump sum is €85,792. The net monthly salary after income tax is €6,851.
Members of the Education Service Commission: €1,407 monthly pension. Gross annual pensionable earnings from January 1, 2026 amount to €93,827. The annual pension for one term is €16,889, or €1,407 per month, while the tax-free lump sum is €78,815. Their net monthly salary after income tax is €5,075.
Nearly €4 million paid to former MPs
A total of nearly €4 million was paid as tax-free lump sums to 17 former MPs who either did not stand for re-election or failed to retain their seats.
Those among them who have reached the age of 60 also receive an MP's pension.
A recent legislative amendment raising the pension eligibility age for MPs and ministers to 65 came into force with the new House of Representatives elected in May.
Some officials entitled to three pensions
Where an official has served in different posts whose pension benefits are governed by separate pieces of legislation, and those laws do not impose restrictions, the individual is entitled to a separate pension for each office held.
For example, an official may initially have worked as a civil servant, retired from that position after being elected mayor and subsequently been elected as an MP. Provided the conditions set out in the relevant legislation are met, that individual would be entitled to three separate pensions: a civil service pension, a mayoral pension and an MP's pension.
One such case is Labour Minister Marinos Mousiouttas, who already receives a pension from his former position as municipal secretary of Nicosia Municipality. Under the current framework, he is also entitled to pension benefits from his service as an MP and, after leaving office, from his ministerial tenure.
The case of Averof Neofytou is similar, as he is entitled to a mayoral pension, an MP's pension and a ministerial pension. However, Neofytou has for some time instructed that his pension payments be transferred to charitable organisations.
AKEL General Secretary Stefanos Stefanou follows the same practice, while Odysseas Michaelides has renounced his pension.
