Cyprus ex-first lady joins jobless queue

The former First Lady of Cyprus is one of the latest victims of her husband’s failed economic policy. Elsi Christofia has applied to the state for redundancy pay, joining some 12,000 unemployed people waiting for the cash they were due, according to reports in the daily Cyprus Mail and Politis newspapers.

Mrs Christofias, who as first lady did not receive a salary during her husband’s term in office, was employed by the communist party Akel, which has now been forced to make people redundant.
In May, just two months after the presidential elections, Demetris Christofias published his family’s accounts in a bid, as he said, to put paid to ‘malicious rumours’ that members of his family are ultra-rich and that they transferred millions out of the country.
The couple transferred to their son their residential apartment worth €484,980, and spent some €18,000 on their son’s studies. They also gifted €230,000 in cash to their two daughters.
Their total combined earnings during the period in question amounted to €914,336, and expenses to €1,088,139, according to the Cyprus Mail.
Christofias’ net income (salary minus taxes and contributions to AKEL) at the end of 2012 came to €764,658 for the five years he was president. His spouse’s net earnings in the same period totalled €149,677 as a member of AKEL’s Central Committee. Most AKEL members appointed or elected to public positions contribute their monthly salary to the party’s coffers and receive a salary from the party instead.

Cyprus Mail report: http://cyprus-mail.com/2013/08/28/former-first-lady-joins-redundancy-queue/