Pensioners protest rising costs, demand meeting with president

Pensioners on Thursday held a demonstration outside the finance ministry to present their demands to the government, after voicing their concerns in the past weeks related to cost of living and financial benefits.

Pensioners are calling for immediate measures to tackle the rising cost of living, which they say is severely impacting their standard of living. They also expressed frustration over the government’s withdrawal of small financial benefits, which were previously provided but have since been discontinued.

The Union of Cypriot pensioners (Ekysy) also requested a meeting with President Nikos Christodoulides. A memorandum outlining the pensioners’ issues was approved during the protest and will be personally delivered to the President.

Ekysy secretary-general, Costas Skarparis, warned that if the government is unwilling to meet with pensioners to discuss their concerns, further action will be taken.

The demonstration outside the finance ministry followed Ekysy’s annual conference, which took place at trade union Peo’s headquarters in Nicosia.

During the conference, the memorandum addressed long-standing issues faced by retirees, many of which have been raised with both the current and previous administrations but remain unresolved.

Skarparis specifically criticised the government for cutting a €50 allowance for low-income pensioners during a period of high inflation and heatwaves, as well as ending electricity subsidies and the zero VAT rate on essential goods.

Another major concern highlighted in the memorandum is the high cost of medicines, which pensioners must purchase through the national health scheme Gesy.

Additionally, Ekysy continues to demand the removal of the 12 per cent penalty on early retirement pensions, claiming the government has failed to address this issue.

Skarparis said that pensioners are growing increasingly frustrated, describing the situation as a “boiling point” for many. He expressed hope that the government would take notice of their demands.

During the conference, around 500 pensioners gathered to discuss their concerns. The memorandum calls for an urgent meeting between the Ekysy leadership and the President to discuss the issues raised.

It also references the numerous protests and lobbying efforts that have taken place over the past 11 years, adding that despite multiple meetings with government ministers, many of the pensioners’ problems remain unsolved.

“As a result, thousands of them continue to suffer,” Skarparis said.

The memorandum goes on to outline the pensioners’ demands, including the need for permanent financial support to offset the rising cost of living, reintroduction of the 20 per cent electricity bill discount for low-income pensioners, and a reduction in VAT on essential goods. Additionally, the union is calling for a reduction in fuel taxes, an extension of the electricity subsidy, and measures to increase the poverty threshold.

The pensioners are also seeking an increase in the amount allocated for basic needs to reflect inflation since 2014, as well as an increase in rent subsidies for those receiving the Guaranteed Minimum Income.