With the arrival of the new year, Cyprus' political parties will once again see their coffers replenished. In early January, the House accounts department will distribute €12.7 million in state funding for 2027.
The payments will come at a particularly important political juncture, as parties gradually enter campaign mode ahead of the February 2028 presidential election.
Their need for financial resources is expected to increase during 2027 as the election approaches, with parties required to finance election campaigns, rallies and other political activities.
The total state grant for 2027, amounting to €12,714,640, will be distributed as follows.
€6.65 million for political parties
A total of €6,649,451 will be distributed among the parliamentary parties.
Of this amount, 15% will be divided equally, while the remaining 85% will be allocated according to the percentage of votes each party received in the May 2026 parliamentary elections.
€5.6 million for parliamentary associates
Another €5,600,549 will cover the employment costs of parliamentary associates hired by MPs and political parties.
Two legislative proposals are currently pending before the House Institutions Committee. One would increase the number of parliamentary associates, while the other would upgrade their salary scales.
Parliamentary associates are currently hired on the A8 salary scale and remain on that scale throughout their service.
There are cases of parliamentary associates who have worked in the House for more than 20 years and continue to be paid under A8.
Their gross monthly salaries range from €2,042 at A8 to €3,489 at the 12th step of A8.
The proposed legislation would allow their salaries to progress as far as the top of the A11 scale.
A second legislative proposal would allow each parliamentary party to employ twice as many parliamentary associates as the number of seats it holds in the House. Each independent MP would be entitled to employ one parliamentary associate.
For example, DISY currently holds 17 seats. If the proposal is approved, it would be entitled to employ 34 parliamentary associates.
AKEL, with 15 MPs, would be entitled to 30 associates, with the same formula applying to the other parliamentary parties.
Based on the current number of parliamentary associates employed by parties and MPs, approval of the proposal is expected to create 11 additional positions.
€314,640 for youth organisations
A further €314,640 will be allocated to the youth organisations of parliamentary parties.
Each of the six youth organisations will initially receive €9,000, amounting to a combined €54,000.
The remaining €260,640 will be distributed according to the results achieved by their respective parties in the 2026 parliamentary elections.
€50,000 for European political contributions
Another €50,000 will be paid to cover contributions made by Cyprus' parliamentary parties to their respective European Union political parties and political groups.
€100,000 for overseas activities
A further €100,000 will be allocated to parliamentary parties for public information activities.
The funding is intended to support events held outside Cyprus during the year aimed at promoting the Republic of Cyprus' official positions on various aspects of the Cyprus issue, as well as highlighting the problems that continue to affect refugees as a result of the division of the island.
Political parties are not required to provide receipts showing how this particular allocation is spent.
