Cyprus Parliament rejects presidential veto on housing loan subsidies

The Parliament of Cyprus voted to reject the President's referral of a legislative amendment concerning the Central Agency for Equal Distribution of Burdens. The vote concluded with 21 deputies opposing the presidential veto and 19 supporting it. Parties including AKEL, ELAM, the Greens, and three independent members voted to override the veto. The amendment aimed to extend the deadline for submitting mortgage interest subsidy applications to the agency from January 1 to June 30, 2027. The President had initially vetoed the law, citing constitutional concerns regarding public finances and potential fiscal strain on the agency. Additionally, the President argued that the extension would create unequal treatment among borrowers who missed the original filing deadlines. During the session, AKEL deputy Nikos Kettiros criticized the government's stance, arguing that the rejection of such measures negatively impacts owners of occupied properties. Proponents of the bill maintained that past precedents for deadline extensions exist and that failure to support displaced persons exacerbates social and property-related issues.