Christodoulides donates monthly pension to Foini care home

Foini, Cyprus. President Nikos Christodoulides has donated his €730 monthly pension for September to a care home for elderly and disabled people in the Troodos village of Foini.

The payment relates to the pension he receives for 18 years of service as a diplomat at the foreign ministry.

Local response

Residents, staff and the village council publicly thanked Christodoulides for the contribution, describing it as “a practical expression of love and respect”.

Pension waiver arrangement

The donation is part of an arrangement under last year’s pension waiver option law, which allows state officials receiving pensions from previous public service to waive those payments while serving in office.

Christodoulides has contacted six councils across the island and informed them that his monthly pension will be distributed among six facilities providing accommodation or care for elderly people over the next year.

The €730 monthly payment will be allocated to a different institution each year for as long as he remains president.

Previous announcement and salary

Christodoulides announced in August last year that he would give his state pension to charitable organisations caring for elderly people, following criticism of his continued receipt of a civil servant pension while serving as president.

Parliament passed legislation later that month allowing officials to formally waive pension payments while serving in public office.

Accountant-general Andreas Antoniades subsequently said the changes represented an improvement but did not “correct all distortions” in the system.

According to treasury figures, Christodoulides’ presidential salary is €14,401 gross per month, with take-home pay of €9,145.