The House is preparing to vote on a proposal that would scale back the benefits long granted to former presidents of the Republic and former speakers of the House.

The draft law will go before the plenary after the House institutions committee agreed to promote the changes.

The current bills were first tabled by House president Annita Demetriou and Volt MP Alexandra Attalides.

They seek to abolish the lifetime benefits introduced under a 1988 law, which granted former presidents and former speakers a state limousine with full running costs, a police driver, bodyguards, and a secretary’s allowance.

The main measure limits the use of a state-provided vehicle to five years and abolishes all fuel and maintenance allowances. The committee decided, however, to keep the right to a secretary’s allowance.

Attalides opposed the decision to send the proposal forward in its current form.

Speaking after the session, she said the debate was not only about public spending but also about the principles of democratic office.

She argued that public duties end when a term ends and should not lead to lifelong privileges.

Attalides said the bill submitted by her party, Volt, aimed to introduce reasonable limits without undermining the institutions or those who served in them.

She stated that the committee discussions showed strong support from some members for keeping a secretary’s allowance for life.

She disagreed, saying five years was sufficient for any former president or House speaker to complete tasks such as writing memoirs or organising archives.

She confirmed she will table an amendment in the plenary to cap the secretary benefit at five years.

She also plans a second amendment to end all state benefits immediately if a former president takes up another public role. She said the state should not continue paying for someone who chooses to lead another organisation.

The auditor general’s office highlighted these arrangements in a recent report, prompting renewed scrutiny.

Five former officials currently qualify under the old system: former presidents Nicos Anastasiades and George Vassiliou, and former speakers Yiannakis Omirou, Marios Karoyian and Demetris Syllouris.

The secretary’s allowance, once a flat €3,000 a month, has required receipts since March 2024. The five former officials receive a pension of around €5,000 per month.

Since leaving office, they have also received a one-off lump sum payment. Some members of the public and MPs have raised concerns about continuing to fund their state-provided perks without a time limit.

The proposals under debate would make several changes. Limousine access would be restricted to five years.

The secretary’s allowance would be paid directly to the employee and only with proper documentation.

Security would be reviewed at intervals, with each former official limited to two police officers acting as drivers.

Despite these moves, the bills had seen little progress since their introduction.

They are now scheduled for a vote in the plenary, where MPs will decide on the proposed limits to the benefits of former presidents and former speakers.