MPs complain over state payroll in supplementary budget

MPs on Monday reviewed the government’s request for an extra €351 million in spending, just days before the supplementary state budget heads to the House plenum for a vote.

The main items on the supplementary involve €103 million for purchasing medicines and vaccines, €60 million in state contributions to insurance schemes, €58 million for desalination, and €31 million on defence spending.

Some legislators complained about the rising government payroll, as well as the €10 million extra requested for the state-funded University of Cyprus.

The government is also asking €8 million for the Amalthea humanitarian aid corridor to Gaza. A finance ministry official said part of this expenditure would be later recovered from the European Union.

Taking questions from MPs about the growing government payroll, the same official mentioned the recent visit here by a team of the International Monetary Fund. The IMF team made certain recommendations on the subject, and the government is currently assessing them.

The state supplementary also includes €12.2 million for the Department of Public Works, plus €11.1 million for hiring teachers on a temporary basis for the coming academic year. Another €2.2m are earmarked for measures to support agricultural products.

The supplementary is scheduled to go to a vote at the House plenary on Thursday.