For the first time in the history of Cyprus, Parliament rejected the budget for 2021. 29 deputies out of 53 voted against it and there were no abstentions.

The votes were distributed as follows: “for” voted 18 representatives of the DISY ruling party, two each from Solidarity, Democratic Alliance and ELAM. “Against” voted 16 deputies from AKEL, six from DIKO, three from EDEK, two from the Green Party, one from the Citizens’ Alliance and independent deputy Anna Theologou.

The main stumbling block was the position of the DIKO party, which demanded to transfer the database on the “golden passports” to the auditor general. A new vote is scheduled for January, at the end of the parliamentary vacation – meanwhile, the deputies approved the January expenses of the state.

It should be noted that without the adopted 2021 state budget, the program on vaccination against coronavirus and the whole functioning of the health care system in Cyprus will be under threat. According to the draft rejected by deputies, budget revenues are assumed to amount to 8.861 billion euros, and primary expenses – 7.610 billion.