However, no cuts would be announced before the May 2016 elections, the minister said.

Some reasonable reductions should be expected inside 2016 if public finances maintained their robust course and no deficits were recorded, Georgiades said.

Regarding the government’s intention to give civil servants who were promoted during a pay freeze, the difference in salary a year earlier than planned, Georgiades said parliament would have the final say on the matter.

He said those pay rises would be granted as part of a comprehensive package regulating the state payroll that will be submitted to parliament.

Through the package, Georgiades said, “we get 100 and give half. The decision is not mine but yours,” on whether to grant that amount.

Source: Cyprus Mail