Garoyian’s double trouble over secretary allowance

By Constantinos Psillides

FORMER DIKO leader and MP Marios Garoyian came under scrutiny on Friday, after it was revealed that he receives two secretarial allowances, one as an MP and one as a former House President.

Finance Minister Haris Georgiades, answering a question by AKEL MP Irene Charalambidou, who demanded to know which government officials were paid two secretarial allowances, said the benefit is granted to MPs, former Republic presidents and former presidents of the House.

Although he refrained from naming the former DIKO leader, Garoyian is the only one who fits the bill since he is currently a DIKO MP and served as House president from March 2008 to June 2011.

According to the minister, former presidents receive a secretarial allowance of €3,019 and MPs get a €1,025 stipend for secretarial services.

The allowance for MPs is incorporated in their monthly salary of €6,611.

The Finance minister told the AKEL MP that the allowance granted to former presidents is equal to the highest salary of a government stenographer.

Georgiades added that returning the allowance was not possible, since the deputies’ wages are protected by law.

Garoyian could not be reached for comment.

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