Sometimes, one can’t help but wonder how things work in this country and what wisdom guides the decisions and legislation of those in power. It’s also unclear whether to laugh or cry at certain situations and the way our political leaders treat citizens.
The only given is that nothing should surprise us because paradox tends to become normality.
In a report yesterday, colleague Fanis Makrides referred to the case of Finance Minister Makis Keravnos, who receives both a pension as a former Finance Minister and a salary as the incumbent.
Yes, that’s right. He receives a pension for his service as Finance Minister in the Tassos Papadopoulos administration, which he continues to collect now that he is once again Finance Minister, along with his current ministerial salary. And this is considered normal and reasonable because it is provided for in the relevant legislation.
What’s more, he has been involved in discussions on behalf of the executive power to regulate the issue of multiple benefits/pensions for officials, following the preparation of relevant bills to address the matter and the confrontation that arose with the Parliament.
Incidentally, these bills replace multiple pensions with hundreds of thousands of euros in gratuities, and some people think they are dealing with naive natives who don’t understand what’s going on.
However, returning to the issue of the Finance Minister, Makis Keravnos responded to Phileleftheros when asked to comment on the information as follows: “First of all, let me clarify that the pension was an amount of the order of €458, while from 2014-15 it rose to €1,070. When I took office in 2023, the first issue I raised with the Treasury of the Republic was this. I said that it was not right for me to receive both a pension and a salary as the Minister of Finance. They replied that I would be overturning the current regime. They cited a court ruling and a legal opinion from the Law Office. The Law Office is the state’s legal advisor, and I am obliged to take it into account.”
It is also noted in the report that at another point in his statements, Keravnos declared that “it does not mean that I agree with this issue and specifically with the fact that I am receiving a pension.”
Well, how can someone disagree with something but continue to enjoy the benefits of a provision with which they disagree? In this case, it is not legality but the moral aspect of the matter that takes precedence.
For example, why did Marios Garoyian waive his pension as a former Speaker of the House when he was re-elected as a member of parliament in 2021? Why did Yannakis Omirou refuse to receive two pensions? Neither Nikos Anastasiades, as President of the Republic, received a parliamentary pension, nor did Ioannis Kasoulides, as Minister of Foreign Affairs, receive a pension as a former member of parliament or minister. Why is the case of Makis Keravnos, who invokes the opinion of the Law Office, any different?
This was preceded by Alexis Galanos, who waived his salary as Speaker of the House, which was donated to the Pancyprian Refugee Union.
From a purely legal standpoint, the issue of multiple pensions remains a significant challenge for society. How can there be legislative distortion and it has not yet been corrected? How is it possible to consider it absolutely logical and natural for a government official to receive two or three pensions, while at the same time, the average citizen struggles to make ends meet?
The issue of multiple pensions is a significant challenge for society and must be resolved immediately.
No multiple pensions, no gratuities, no other strange recipes. One pension at the age of 65 for all.
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