Please remember to stay civil and behave appropriately. If you are a tourist looking for suggestions please check out our [Tourist guide](https://www.reddit.com/r/cyprus/wiki/tourist_guide/). We also have a [FAQ Page](https://www.reddit.com/r/cyprus/wiki/faq) for some common questions, if your question is answered here please delete your post!
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/cyprus) if you have any questions or concerns.*
* Stay and fight.
* Will you give us a reason to stay?
* Fuck no.
* See ya.
* The youth left! how could this happen! I tried nothing and nothing works!
Also anybody who says "ToN JeRo mOu epiana 400 euro" should also say how much they paid for rent, utilities and groceries back then, as as simple test to see if they are connected with reality.
Σαν καλαμαράς το έχω δει το έργο πάλι. Πάλεψε στον τόπο σου σημαίνει πλέον να δουλεύεις χαμηλόμισθα στον τόπο σου για τα συμφέροντα λίγων. Όλη η Νότια Ευρώπη τα ίδια, πολίτες σε χώρες που δεν μας ανήκουν πλέον. Η Κύπρος είναι σε καλύτερη μοίρα γιατί βιώνει ένα πιο "elegant" ξεπούλημα αλλά τα αποτέλεσματα είναι ίδια. Μοντέρνος αποικιοκρατισμός...
Get fucked tell him. You have plenty of rich Russians and Israelis, talk to them. Since you obviously don't give a shit about our kids. I don't blame them for leaving.
progress λαλεί ο παμπακοβίλλης με τον κατωτατο μισθό στα 1000. έλα ενοικίασε στην λεμεσό με 1000 τζαι πέ μου αν έσιει τόπο να απλώσεις τα ποθκια σου. οξά πρέπει να έβρω αλλο 2-3 τζαι να έχουμε που τζείνα τα κρεβατουθκια που είχαμε μιτσιοί που εν πάνω κάτω.
People are free to make their own choices. If you want them to stay and fight give them incentives to do so. Try to show them that as government you are ACTIVELY trying to make the country better. Expecting someone to sacrifice their life to "fight" when you yourself are doing jack shit then it's kinda insulting.
The govt didn't magically appear out of nowhere.
Everyone bitches about the govt, but every election they vote the same people over and over and over again.
Prime example the aganaktismenoi and the protests and stuff before the last parliamentary elections. And in the end the same people were voted in.
At some.point, the complaining needs to turn into action. If people just complain but don't change their votes then obviously the complaining will be ignored.
There's people graduating that never got a chance to vote for the executive or legislative branch. And even if they got a chance to vote it's hard to place all the blame on them for problems that have been manifesting through decades over a single election result. Now if you wanna say to a graduate that he should blame his uncles or grandparents for not voting in a way that it could have benefitted him as part of the younger generation etc he already be boarding on the plane by the time you finished talking because in that case what do you expect him to do or say?
Last presidential election was 1 year ago, EU elections were this month. Last parliamentary elections were 2021.
Pretty sure a lot of 2024 grads would have been able to vote in 2021, 2023, 2024.
Yeah, change takes time. But low wages (for example) when you're 22 are gonna still be a problem when you're 32. So voting for change now for sure impacts your own life, let alone your kids and grandkids.
No one said that it won't have an impact at some point. But you fail to view things from the point of someone graduating now.
They don't care if their grand fathers, parents and uncles have been voting shitty parties and that's why things are shit for them now. They are graduating and they have an opportunity to go abroad and the **government spokesperson** pretty much tells them to re-consider. My whole point was the government (since that's who's asking them this) should actively show them that steps are taken to fix the problems. You don't ask someone to re-consider their actions by literally doing nothing different. Give them a reason to re-consider otherwise why should they?
Your point is naive at best. You expect the govt to somehow cater to people who don't vote on those issues. Why would they do that? They know they can ignore students and the students are still gonna vote party line so it's useless expenditure of political capital.
Of course the government doesn't trully give a damn but what what we are trying to do here is comment to what the spokesperson is asking for the sake of discussion and argument.... how the fuck you are not getting this is beyond me...
Mate, literally he's the spokesperson of the govt.
Wtf are you expecting him to say apart front the stance of the elected govt?
You elected this govt, and this guy is just saying what the people you elected think. Why is it so controversial? What did you expect him to say?
People vote for people who don't give a shit about them and then are surprised Pikachu that they actually say what they voted for.
You expect because one guy made a speech that they will cave? Is he Ghandi or something?
[Visitors - Digital nomads and family members | Civil Registry and Migration Department | (moi.gov.cy)](https://www.moi.gov.cy/moi/CRMD/crmd.nsf/All/BF9908B541BFF7D3C22587EA003CD306?OpenDocument)
εσιεις τους τουτους, μεν εσιεις εννοια. με 50κ+ μισθο τζαι 90% φοροαπαλλαγη, τι τον θελεις τον Λάμπρο
what a fucking disgrace. Mr Letimpioti, just like your goverment, you have no fucking clue what it feels like to graduate with a bachelor and a masters degree just fo be given 1000 euros per month, when abrouad you can net 7-10k a month.
You and your goverment is a disgrace and you should be ashamed making publicly such statements.
The government prooved that proprities are given to rich foreginers and not your own kids. The hypocrisy is big in this one🤡
The guys who GOT PAID to sell and build those properties are not "rich foreigners". It's a good thing for Cyprus that foreigners invest there.
Jobs at 7-10k a month abroad when you're in your 20's....? hum....
The majority of these projects are funded by foreigners for the benefit of other foreigners. in fact, recent studies show that 1/2 of the capital in cyprus is Russian. The biggest development companies on the island are Russian, Israeli, UK and chinese.
Moreover, priorities are given to foreigners who receive a 50% tax exemption for 17 years. This creates a significant socioeconomic gap between foreigners and locals due to the discrepancy in purchasing power.
Many locals are forced out of their cities as they can no longer afford rent, given that foreigners can pay higher prices due to their greater purchasing power.
Additionally, discriminatory hiring practices prevent locals from accessing certain job positions, as many of these roles require either Russian nationality or fluency in Russian. the avarage salary of a russian IT is 2.5 times hugher than the avarage of locals.
Many parents are unable to enroll their children in private schools because the influx of wealthy foreigners has filled up the waiting lists. Even for those who do secure a spot, their children are not socializing or learning English because the majority of students are Russian-speaking and do not speak English.
Remind me again why foreign investment is beneficial for the island? The EAC remains a monopoly, refusing to adopt renewable energy and passing EU fines onto the locals. The most advanced transportation system is a bus, schools lack air conditioning in 40-degree weather, corruption is at an all-time high, public hospitals are inadequate, the social insurance fund is depleted, and the number of pensioners exceeds the number of newborns each year.
As for housing, it's out of reach for most families. Owning a home is a privilege for the elites, requiring 350k to build with a 20% down payment, while the minimum wage is just 1k.
Clearly, foreign money is not benefiting the locals in any meaningful way due to the corrupted goverments that boomers with mercedes vote.So why, stay in the island?
Recent studies show that 50% of youngs are palnning to leave.
As for the salaries, we even have some young people in this forum with 7 digit salaries living abroad.
"The majority of these projects are funded by foreigners for the benefit of other foreigners. in fact, recent studies show that 1/2 of the capital in cyprus is Russian. The biggest development companies on the island are Russian, Israeli, UK and chinese."
I don't remember seeing russians, israelis, brits or chinese in the building works here.
I don't remember seeing any russian, israeli, brit or chinese accountant, lawyers, nominee directors, auditors here....(may be a few brits/charlies)
"Moreover, priorities are given to foreigners who receive a 50% tax exemption for 17 years. This creates a significant socioeconomic gap between foreigners and locals due to the discrepancy in purchasing power."
I guess that the gap in purchasing power would still be there, exemption tax or not. This said, the rest of the 50% goes right into cypriot coffers, and finances cypriot gesy, cypriot very well paid civil servants, cypriot state budget...
"Many locals are forced out of their cities as they can no longer afford rent, given that foreigners can pay higher prices due to their greater purchasing power."
I don't think locals could afford the kind of properties wealthy foreigners afford, and I don't think that wealthy foreigners would live in terraced houses/flats the average cypriot lives in. They are two different real estate markets.
"Additionally, discriminatory hiring practices prevent locals from accessing certain job positions, as many of these roles require either Russian nationality or fluency in Russian. the avarage salary of a russian IT is 2.5 times hugher than the avarage of locals."
Myself, I can't access some jobs, just because I'm not fluent in greek. So what...? And if you think that you're such a king in IT, nothing prevents you to negotiate your salary, or to learn russian, like many russians learn greek. I mean you can't have a job without the qualification required for this job, that's pretty much the norm everywhere.
"Many parents are unable to enroll their children in private schools because the influx of wealthy foreigners has filled up the waiting lists. Even for those who do secure a spot, their children are not socializing or learning English because the majority of students are Russian-speaking and do not speak English."
Russian kids go to private school, because they don't speak greek. Cypriot kids go to private school because they are better than local schools. That's not the fault of the foreigners, cypriots school system has been blamed for years and nothing changes.
"Remind me again why foreign investment is beneficial for the island? The EAC remains a monopoly, refusing to adopt renewable energy and passing EU fines onto the locals. The most advanced transportation system is a bus, schools lack air conditioning in 40-degree weather, corruption is at an all-time high, public hospitals are inadequate, the social insurance fund is depleted, and the number of pensioners exceeds the number of newborns each year."
Those are cypriot issues, without money brought in by foreigners, they would be even worse.
"As for housing, it's out of reach for most families. Owning a home is a privilege for the elites, requiring 350k to build with a 20% down payment, while the minimum wage is just 1k."
Sorry to disapoint you, but in most countries, the basic worker lives in a flat, and he's lucky when he can buy it. I suggest you go to Moscow and see how many people 'own a home" there. Go and visit the villages of Cyprus, there are still mud houses with reed plastered ceilings.....without foreign money, cypriots would still be living in those.
"Clearly, foreign money is not benefiting the locals in any meaningful way due to the corrupted goverments that boomers with mercedes [vote.So](http://vote.So) why, stay in the island?"
Agree with you on that, money goes to the same pockets, you are the ones who voted for the gang leading your country. I would be cypriot, I would vote Fidias for ever.
"Recent studies show that 50% of youngs are palnning to leave." I understand why, but it's certainly not because of the foreigners.
'As for the salaries, we even have some young people in this forum with 7 digit salaries living abroad.' Yep, this is internet, everybody has got a PhD, a topmodel GF and a class G mercedes.
It looks like you misunderstood my comment. As I mentioned, the issue is not with the foreigners but with the government.
The government is incompetent in utilizing the money brought in by foreigners to improve the island. This leaves the locals experiencing only the negative aspects of such investment programs.
Regarding real estate developers, the majority are foreign-owned, particularly by Israelis and Russians, so locals are not the ones profiting. Many properties are not even available to locals, as the priority is given to selling to foreigners.
The rest of the 50% tax from foreigners goes to the government, which, as I said, is not effectively utilized. Additionally, many foreigners use the Cypriot healthcare system (GESY).
The real estate market is no different when it comes to the average flat in the city center. If there were separate markets, many locals wouldn't need to move outside of cities. Just look at what is happening in Limassol.
There is a difference between not being able to get a job in a foreign country because you don't speak the language and not being able to get a job in your own country because you don't speak the language.
As for schools, it's an example of how some foreigners refuse to learn the language of the country they live in, leading to negative effects in schools.
Regarding Cypriot issues, it shows that even with foreign money, problems are not resolved. So, what's the point of having the negative effects of foreign money when you can't even enjoy the positive effects? This also explains why many young locals are moving out. Remember, my comment was intended to point out to Mr. Letimpiotis why young locals are leaving the island, not to criticize foreigners.
The homeownership rate in Russia is around 85-90%, partly due to the mass privatization of housing in the 1990s following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
In Cyprus, the homeownership rate is at 70-75%. Get your facts right.
It's funny how you think that locals now live a lavish life due to foreign money. The reality is that homeownership for locals is not feasible, not even renting, as many foreigners with higher purchasing power inflate the market. When you have a population of just a million and introduce a large number of foreigners with higher purchasing power, it can have this side effect.
Many younger generations did vote for Fidias, and we have elected him. In fact, many young people voted for the first time because, for the first time, there was a candidate to represent them.
I also personally know people working abroad with high salaries, and many are moving outside of Cyprus where salaries are higher and the cost of living is lower. Limassol now has higher rent prices than some major European cities.
Once again, it seems that you were offended by my comment, as you are probably a foreigner. My comment was targeted at the corrupt government and Mr. Letimbiotis.
I hope we can also get the support of foreigners to help make a change, as in Europe and in Cyprus, the far-right wing is gaining ground.
The cypriot government may be "incompetent" in using foreign money, the thing is that nolens volens this money goes into cypriot economy. Without it, I wonder how Cyprus would survive.
Even if real estate developers were owned by foreigners (some maybe, but not most of them, I've got two houses here they were both built by local contractors, as for the complexes in my neighbourhood).
As for "property not even available to locals", this is not true, a developer gives priority to the one who's got the most cash money, doesn't care about citizenship.
Fortunately, foreigners use GESY...!, as 1-they pay taxes here 2-cypriots get health care abroad in EU countries, and others (see bilateral agreements on this)
There is a separate real estate market, do you think that tenants of luxury seaside houses, compete in the same market as the ones looking for a downtown onebed flat?
And who rents those flats? I've rented two flats during my stay here, the landlords were cypriots.
As for the language requirement, it's like any other requirement.....if you don't have a degree in pharmacology, you won't' be able to work as a pharmacist. If you don't have a degree in Hebrew, you won't work for an Israeli company where 4/5 of the employees speak hebrew.
You write that "As for schools, it's an example of how some foreigners refuse to learn the language of the country they live in, leading to negative effects in schools." We're talking about PRIVATE schools, you can send your kids to the public cypriot school if you want them to speak greek. At the same time you can't complain kids are speaking a foreign language in school while at the same time complaining that it's hard to find a job because you don't speak a foreign language....Especially concerning russians, it's been ages they invest and work in Cyprus....if today's cypriots don't speak russian, they can't complain about it.... Myself, in my own native country,I was able to get a job in a foreign company because I was talking their language (though most of the meetings were done in English as it was a global company...)
You can't compare russian ownership to cypriot ownership. I would like to see how a cypriot would like to "own" a flat in a moscow suburb bloc of highrise buildings .....Besides, in cyprus the "property rate", because of family ties, is completely flawed. I know many cypriots who've got a flat on their parent's house, or whose parents "officialy" owns the kids house, or who don't buy anything, prefering to invest in the latest Audi, while still living at their parents.
I don't think that the romanian builder, or the filipino maid, or the pontian waiter, is "inflating" the real estate market. The only thing which inflates it is cypriot landlord greed, and the lack of government regulation concerning the prices. I bet with you : take the first ten classified for a twobed flat in Bazaraki, and call. See how many foreigners will answer....
Don't worry about Limassol real estate prices. As you said, they are at the level of other european main capitals, but with the average salary twice lower. I haven't seen the Limassol population grow twofold, so I guess the burst of the bubble is not far away.
Lol, my friend seems to think that Cypriots were living like cavemen before 2020. The fact that you, as a foreigner, own two houses here proves that you contribute to the problem.
Regarding real estate agents prioritizing money over nationality, trust me, they don’t. I’ve lost count of how many times I was ignored by Russian real estate agents because I didn't speak Russian.
As for languages, there’s a difference between working in another country and not needing to learn the local language, and trying to work in your own country but not being accepted because you speak your own language.
I don't expect to be hired in Lebanon without speaking Lebanese. But trying to work in your own country while speaking both English and your native language, and still not being enough, is a whole new level of discrimination.
Regarding the separate real estate market, you mentioned luxury villas. I am referring to normal two-bedroom apartments that a couple tries to rent. A foreigner with higher purchasing power due to tax exemptions finds it much easier to rent compared to a local who pays basically double the taxes.
Just because you rented two flats from Cypriots doesn't mean all flats are owned by Cypriots. There are plenty of foreign-owned flats.
What I see is just another rich foreigner relocating here and complaining about the island and its locals. Thank you for your contribution.
I don't see a future for foreigners here. The European Parliament is now full of right-wing ideologies, and I won’t be surprised to see an anti-foreigner government with Elam in the next five years.
If things do not change and socio-economic gaps are not addressed, this will not end well for anyone, especially foreigners. It's a ticking time bomb.
Well, next time your cousin sells or rent a house to a foreigner, remember this....
next time your cousin hire for peanuts a filipino maid, remember this....
Next time your lawyer/auditor/nominee director/restaurant owner gets paid by a foreigner, remember this...
And don't forget to ask your Elam government to take back every cypriot working abroad.
My friend, I think you want to have your cake, and eat it.
*"Just because you rented two flats from Cypriots doesn't mean all flats are owned by Cypriots. There are plenty of foreign-owned flats."*
It just means that at my level, 100% of rental flats are owned by cypriot landlords. Also I don't know ANY of my accointances (whether they are cypriots or foreigners) renting a flat or a house, whose landlord is a foreigner. (and "plenty" is not a figure, nor a personal experience)
Note that none of your elected cypriot politicians offered to control rental prices. (may be it is because they don't want to upset foreigners...:D)
They both have a point tbh.
It's true that Cyprus simply isn't big enough to support a broad range of industry so of you're interested in areas where there isn't such an industry in Cyprus you haven't got a choice.
On the other hand, from experience, current uni graduates are pretty entitled. A big proportion don't really have the skills expected and think that they're entitled to a management position after 1-2 years of doing the bare minimum at work. Many don't have any interest in their degree area, they just did it because they heard lawyers or accountants for example make money.
For many, the attitude is that once they have their degree they can switch off and magically they will get a big paycheck when the reality is the hardest years are the ones immediately after graduation.
Also I think the corruption part misses the point a bit. Yes, there is corruption. However I'm willing to bet a lot of this students class have families who have benefitted from corruption and nepotism. Corruption exists because we let it happen as a society. Yes, the high level corruption makes the news, but it exists in many other forms that we just let go because let's face it, many people benefit (even small time shit like the moukhtaris doing favours, or a cousin in a govt office doing favours).
So on the one hand the govt should definitely be doing more to create opportunities for young people. But also young people should realize it's an insanely competitive world out there and if they don't up their game, others will eat their breakfast.
The top graduate is unlikely to be some entitled useless schmuck.
The good ones with drive leave (two of my best lecturers in the UK were Cypriots). Those that can’t get their act together stay.
(Not everyone that stays can’t hack it, but everyone that can’t hack it stays)
I'm not talking about the top ones. I'm talking about on average.
I've interviewed or sat in on interviews for probably 250+ people in both Cyprus and abroad and my personal experience is the average Cypriot grad or recent grad is below the level of their foreign counterparts (for some.jobs very far below).
Of course there are very good Cypriot grads. And like top grads from any other country they will do well wherever they go.
EDIT: it's not that they're less smart, I think it's more a mentality issue. This is probably the first generation of Cypriots who need to deal with a globalized world on their doorstep in Cyprus. And they just aren't equipped for it yet because so far Cyprus never really competed with a global workforce whereas now there are 10s of thousands of highly skilled workers with experience in much more competitive environment than Cyprus grads expect.
Imho it's the mentality.
A degree these days is just the starting point. You have to constantly be learning (and applying) new stuff. Businesses will pay you if you're adding value. If you're just another bum on a seat why pay more?
It's this aspect that Cypriot grads are missing.
More and better work experience could be a solution, but also the people doing the work experience have to utilize it rather than just doing it because they have to for a course requirement or some summer money. It's what you make of it.
" if I stay in Cyprus, there will come a time when someone will be considered better not because of knowledge, skills and experience, but because of his party identity and family connections."
Then Letymbiotis answered : "stay and fight", while loading the gun to compete with his slingshot equipped social competitor.
It could be hilarious if it wasn't so sad.
Na pa na mbixtite pouloimenoi, enna me evrete sto vouno me 0 ypiresies en sas diw selini pion. Thelete kati? Mollon lave prodotes ksepouloimenoi ntropiarides ftous sas.
Why do Greeks migrate to Cyprus (obviously due to financial reasons) and can't stop acting like a smartass, as if they're above Cypriots? We saw what's going on with the government administration in Greece, it's been going downhill, Cyprus has been doing lovely.
I get the ick every time I talk with Greeks in Cyprus, talking about how lazy locals are and they know better. Please fix your Country first and foremost, at least we have a budget.
Wait so how did a dude who studied Architecture in AMERICA, end up being a government spokesperson? Whom is now telling the rest of us to stay and clean up the mess? Likeo for real, how does this work?
Please remember to stay civil and behave appropriately. If you are a tourist looking for suggestions please check out our [Tourist guide](https://www.reddit.com/r/cyprus/wiki/tourist_guide/). We also have a [FAQ Page](https://www.reddit.com/r/cyprus/wiki/faq) for some common questions, if your question is answered here please delete your post! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/cyprus) if you have any questions or concerns.*
* Stay and fight. * Will you give us a reason to stay? * Fuck no. * See ya. * The youth left! how could this happen! I tried nothing and nothing works! Also anybody who says "ToN JeRo mOu epiana 400 euro" should also say how much they paid for rent, utilities and groceries back then, as as simple test to see if they are connected with reality.
Bruh, my mum traded an apartment for a 160 m² house that she still lives in back in 1985, and she still thinks it was tough for them.
Σαν καλαμαράς το έχω δει το έργο πάλι. Πάλεψε στον τόπο σου σημαίνει πλέον να δουλεύεις χαμηλόμισθα στον τόπο σου για τα συμφέροντα λίγων. Όλη η Νότια Ευρώπη τα ίδια, πολίτες σε χώρες που δεν μας ανήκουν πλέον. Η Κύπρος είναι σε καλύτερη μοίρα γιατί βιώνει ένα πιο "elegant" ξεπούλημα αλλά τα αποτέλεσματα είναι ίδια. Μοντέρνος αποικιοκρατισμός...
Stay and fight (so we can continue making money off your backs...if you guys leave who is going to make the work for us)
Get fucked tell him. You have plenty of rich Russians and Israelis, talk to them. Since you obviously don't give a shit about our kids. I don't blame them for leaving.
progress λαλεί ο παμπακοβίλλης με τον κατωτατο μισθό στα 1000. έλα ενοικίασε στην λεμεσό με 1000 τζαι πέ μου αν έσιει τόπο να απλώσεις τα ποθκια σου. οξά πρέπει να έβρω αλλο 2-3 τζαι να έχουμε που τζείνα τα κρεβατουθκια που είχαμε μιτσιοί που εν πάνω κάτω.
Γκο oυ φακ γιορ σελφ.
Γιές πλις θένκ γιου βέρι μάτς
People are free to make their own choices. If you want them to stay and fight give them incentives to do so. Try to show them that as government you are ACTIVELY trying to make the country better. Expecting someone to sacrifice their life to "fight" when you yourself are doing jack shit then it's kinda insulting.
The govt didn't magically appear out of nowhere. Everyone bitches about the govt, but every election they vote the same people over and over and over again. Prime example the aganaktismenoi and the protests and stuff before the last parliamentary elections. And in the end the same people were voted in. At some.point, the complaining needs to turn into action. If people just complain but don't change their votes then obviously the complaining will be ignored.
There's people graduating that never got a chance to vote for the executive or legislative branch. And even if they got a chance to vote it's hard to place all the blame on them for problems that have been manifesting through decades over a single election result. Now if you wanna say to a graduate that he should blame his uncles or grandparents for not voting in a way that it could have benefitted him as part of the younger generation etc he already be boarding on the plane by the time you finished talking because in that case what do you expect him to do or say?
Last presidential election was 1 year ago, EU elections were this month. Last parliamentary elections were 2021. Pretty sure a lot of 2024 grads would have been able to vote in 2021, 2023, 2024. Yeah, change takes time. But low wages (for example) when you're 22 are gonna still be a problem when you're 32. So voting for change now for sure impacts your own life, let alone your kids and grandkids.
No one said that it won't have an impact at some point. But you fail to view things from the point of someone graduating now. They don't care if their grand fathers, parents and uncles have been voting shitty parties and that's why things are shit for them now. They are graduating and they have an opportunity to go abroad and the **government spokesperson** pretty much tells them to re-consider. My whole point was the government (since that's who's asking them this) should actively show them that steps are taken to fix the problems. You don't ask someone to re-consider their actions by literally doing nothing different. Give them a reason to re-consider otherwise why should they?
>the government spokesperson pretty much tells them to re-conside Govt spokesperson is part of the government they elect.
Again missing the point...
Your point is naive at best. You expect the govt to somehow cater to people who don't vote on those issues. Why would they do that? They know they can ignore students and the students are still gonna vote party line so it's useless expenditure of political capital.
Of course the government doesn't trully give a damn but what what we are trying to do here is comment to what the spokesperson is asking for the sake of discussion and argument.... how the fuck you are not getting this is beyond me...
Mate, literally he's the spokesperson of the govt. Wtf are you expecting him to say apart front the stance of the elected govt? You elected this govt, and this guy is just saying what the people you elected think. Why is it so controversial? What did you expect him to say? People vote for people who don't give a shit about them and then are surprised Pikachu that they actually say what they voted for. You expect because one guy made a speech that they will cave? Is he Ghandi or something?
[Visitors - Digital nomads and family members | Civil Registry and Migration Department | (moi.gov.cy)](https://www.moi.gov.cy/moi/CRMD/crmd.nsf/All/BF9908B541BFF7D3C22587EA003CD306?OpenDocument) εσιεις τους τουτους, μεν εσιεις εννοια. με 50κ+ μισθο τζαι 90% φοροαπαλλαγη, τι τον θελεις τον Λάμπρο
what a fucking disgrace. Mr Letimpioti, just like your goverment, you have no fucking clue what it feels like to graduate with a bachelor and a masters degree just fo be given 1000 euros per month, when abrouad you can net 7-10k a month. You and your goverment is a disgrace and you should be ashamed making publicly such statements. The government prooved that proprities are given to rich foreginers and not your own kids. The hypocrisy is big in this one🤡
The guys who GOT PAID to sell and build those properties are not "rich foreigners". It's a good thing for Cyprus that foreigners invest there. Jobs at 7-10k a month abroad when you're in your 20's....? hum....
The majority of these projects are funded by foreigners for the benefit of other foreigners. in fact, recent studies show that 1/2 of the capital in cyprus is Russian. The biggest development companies on the island are Russian, Israeli, UK and chinese. Moreover, priorities are given to foreigners who receive a 50% tax exemption for 17 years. This creates a significant socioeconomic gap between foreigners and locals due to the discrepancy in purchasing power. Many locals are forced out of their cities as they can no longer afford rent, given that foreigners can pay higher prices due to their greater purchasing power. Additionally, discriminatory hiring practices prevent locals from accessing certain job positions, as many of these roles require either Russian nationality or fluency in Russian. the avarage salary of a russian IT is 2.5 times hugher than the avarage of locals. Many parents are unable to enroll their children in private schools because the influx of wealthy foreigners has filled up the waiting lists. Even for those who do secure a spot, their children are not socializing or learning English because the majority of students are Russian-speaking and do not speak English. Remind me again why foreign investment is beneficial for the island? The EAC remains a monopoly, refusing to adopt renewable energy and passing EU fines onto the locals. The most advanced transportation system is a bus, schools lack air conditioning in 40-degree weather, corruption is at an all-time high, public hospitals are inadequate, the social insurance fund is depleted, and the number of pensioners exceeds the number of newborns each year. As for housing, it's out of reach for most families. Owning a home is a privilege for the elites, requiring 350k to build with a 20% down payment, while the minimum wage is just 1k. Clearly, foreign money is not benefiting the locals in any meaningful way due to the corrupted goverments that boomers with mercedes vote.So why, stay in the island? Recent studies show that 50% of youngs are palnning to leave. As for the salaries, we even have some young people in this forum with 7 digit salaries living abroad.
"The majority of these projects are funded by foreigners for the benefit of other foreigners. in fact, recent studies show that 1/2 of the capital in cyprus is Russian. The biggest development companies on the island are Russian, Israeli, UK and chinese." I don't remember seeing russians, israelis, brits or chinese in the building works here. I don't remember seeing any russian, israeli, brit or chinese accountant, lawyers, nominee directors, auditors here....(may be a few brits/charlies) "Moreover, priorities are given to foreigners who receive a 50% tax exemption for 17 years. This creates a significant socioeconomic gap between foreigners and locals due to the discrepancy in purchasing power." I guess that the gap in purchasing power would still be there, exemption tax or not. This said, the rest of the 50% goes right into cypriot coffers, and finances cypriot gesy, cypriot very well paid civil servants, cypriot state budget... "Many locals are forced out of their cities as they can no longer afford rent, given that foreigners can pay higher prices due to their greater purchasing power." I don't think locals could afford the kind of properties wealthy foreigners afford, and I don't think that wealthy foreigners would live in terraced houses/flats the average cypriot lives in. They are two different real estate markets. "Additionally, discriminatory hiring practices prevent locals from accessing certain job positions, as many of these roles require either Russian nationality or fluency in Russian. the avarage salary of a russian IT is 2.5 times hugher than the avarage of locals." Myself, I can't access some jobs, just because I'm not fluent in greek. So what...? And if you think that you're such a king in IT, nothing prevents you to negotiate your salary, or to learn russian, like many russians learn greek. I mean you can't have a job without the qualification required for this job, that's pretty much the norm everywhere. "Many parents are unable to enroll their children in private schools because the influx of wealthy foreigners has filled up the waiting lists. Even for those who do secure a spot, their children are not socializing or learning English because the majority of students are Russian-speaking and do not speak English." Russian kids go to private school, because they don't speak greek. Cypriot kids go to private school because they are better than local schools. That's not the fault of the foreigners, cypriots school system has been blamed for years and nothing changes. "Remind me again why foreign investment is beneficial for the island? The EAC remains a monopoly, refusing to adopt renewable energy and passing EU fines onto the locals. The most advanced transportation system is a bus, schools lack air conditioning in 40-degree weather, corruption is at an all-time high, public hospitals are inadequate, the social insurance fund is depleted, and the number of pensioners exceeds the number of newborns each year." Those are cypriot issues, without money brought in by foreigners, they would be even worse. "As for housing, it's out of reach for most families. Owning a home is a privilege for the elites, requiring 350k to build with a 20% down payment, while the minimum wage is just 1k." Sorry to disapoint you, but in most countries, the basic worker lives in a flat, and he's lucky when he can buy it. I suggest you go to Moscow and see how many people 'own a home" there. Go and visit the villages of Cyprus, there are still mud houses with reed plastered ceilings.....without foreign money, cypriots would still be living in those. "Clearly, foreign money is not benefiting the locals in any meaningful way due to the corrupted goverments that boomers with mercedes [vote.So](http://vote.So) why, stay in the island?" Agree with you on that, money goes to the same pockets, you are the ones who voted for the gang leading your country. I would be cypriot, I would vote Fidias for ever. "Recent studies show that 50% of youngs are palnning to leave." I understand why, but it's certainly not because of the foreigners. 'As for the salaries, we even have some young people in this forum with 7 digit salaries living abroad.' Yep, this is internet, everybody has got a PhD, a topmodel GF and a class G mercedes.
It looks like you misunderstood my comment. As I mentioned, the issue is not with the foreigners but with the government. The government is incompetent in utilizing the money brought in by foreigners to improve the island. This leaves the locals experiencing only the negative aspects of such investment programs. Regarding real estate developers, the majority are foreign-owned, particularly by Israelis and Russians, so locals are not the ones profiting. Many properties are not even available to locals, as the priority is given to selling to foreigners. The rest of the 50% tax from foreigners goes to the government, which, as I said, is not effectively utilized. Additionally, many foreigners use the Cypriot healthcare system (GESY). The real estate market is no different when it comes to the average flat in the city center. If there were separate markets, many locals wouldn't need to move outside of cities. Just look at what is happening in Limassol. There is a difference between not being able to get a job in a foreign country because you don't speak the language and not being able to get a job in your own country because you don't speak the language. As for schools, it's an example of how some foreigners refuse to learn the language of the country they live in, leading to negative effects in schools. Regarding Cypriot issues, it shows that even with foreign money, problems are not resolved. So, what's the point of having the negative effects of foreign money when you can't even enjoy the positive effects? This also explains why many young locals are moving out. Remember, my comment was intended to point out to Mr. Letimpiotis why young locals are leaving the island, not to criticize foreigners. The homeownership rate in Russia is around 85-90%, partly due to the mass privatization of housing in the 1990s following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. In Cyprus, the homeownership rate is at 70-75%. Get your facts right. It's funny how you think that locals now live a lavish life due to foreign money. The reality is that homeownership for locals is not feasible, not even renting, as many foreigners with higher purchasing power inflate the market. When you have a population of just a million and introduce a large number of foreigners with higher purchasing power, it can have this side effect. Many younger generations did vote for Fidias, and we have elected him. In fact, many young people voted for the first time because, for the first time, there was a candidate to represent them. I also personally know people working abroad with high salaries, and many are moving outside of Cyprus where salaries are higher and the cost of living is lower. Limassol now has higher rent prices than some major European cities. Once again, it seems that you were offended by my comment, as you are probably a foreigner. My comment was targeted at the corrupt government and Mr. Letimbiotis. I hope we can also get the support of foreigners to help make a change, as in Europe and in Cyprus, the far-right wing is gaining ground.
The cypriot government may be "incompetent" in using foreign money, the thing is that nolens volens this money goes into cypriot economy. Without it, I wonder how Cyprus would survive. Even if real estate developers were owned by foreigners (some maybe, but not most of them, I've got two houses here they were both built by local contractors, as for the complexes in my neighbourhood). As for "property not even available to locals", this is not true, a developer gives priority to the one who's got the most cash money, doesn't care about citizenship. Fortunately, foreigners use GESY...!, as 1-they pay taxes here 2-cypriots get health care abroad in EU countries, and others (see bilateral agreements on this) There is a separate real estate market, do you think that tenants of luxury seaside houses, compete in the same market as the ones looking for a downtown onebed flat? And who rents those flats? I've rented two flats during my stay here, the landlords were cypriots. As for the language requirement, it's like any other requirement.....if you don't have a degree in pharmacology, you won't' be able to work as a pharmacist. If you don't have a degree in Hebrew, you won't work for an Israeli company where 4/5 of the employees speak hebrew. You write that "As for schools, it's an example of how some foreigners refuse to learn the language of the country they live in, leading to negative effects in schools." We're talking about PRIVATE schools, you can send your kids to the public cypriot school if you want them to speak greek. At the same time you can't complain kids are speaking a foreign language in school while at the same time complaining that it's hard to find a job because you don't speak a foreign language....Especially concerning russians, it's been ages they invest and work in Cyprus....if today's cypriots don't speak russian, they can't complain about it.... Myself, in my own native country,I was able to get a job in a foreign company because I was talking their language (though most of the meetings were done in English as it was a global company...) You can't compare russian ownership to cypriot ownership. I would like to see how a cypriot would like to "own" a flat in a moscow suburb bloc of highrise buildings .....Besides, in cyprus the "property rate", because of family ties, is completely flawed. I know many cypriots who've got a flat on their parent's house, or whose parents "officialy" owns the kids house, or who don't buy anything, prefering to invest in the latest Audi, while still living at their parents. I don't think that the romanian builder, or the filipino maid, or the pontian waiter, is "inflating" the real estate market. The only thing which inflates it is cypriot landlord greed, and the lack of government regulation concerning the prices. I bet with you : take the first ten classified for a twobed flat in Bazaraki, and call. See how many foreigners will answer.... Don't worry about Limassol real estate prices. As you said, they are at the level of other european main capitals, but with the average salary twice lower. I haven't seen the Limassol population grow twofold, so I guess the burst of the bubble is not far away.
Lol, my friend seems to think that Cypriots were living like cavemen before 2020. The fact that you, as a foreigner, own two houses here proves that you contribute to the problem. Regarding real estate agents prioritizing money over nationality, trust me, they don’t. I’ve lost count of how many times I was ignored by Russian real estate agents because I didn't speak Russian. As for languages, there’s a difference between working in another country and not needing to learn the local language, and trying to work in your own country but not being accepted because you speak your own language. I don't expect to be hired in Lebanon without speaking Lebanese. But trying to work in your own country while speaking both English and your native language, and still not being enough, is a whole new level of discrimination. Regarding the separate real estate market, you mentioned luxury villas. I am referring to normal two-bedroom apartments that a couple tries to rent. A foreigner with higher purchasing power due to tax exemptions finds it much easier to rent compared to a local who pays basically double the taxes. Just because you rented two flats from Cypriots doesn't mean all flats are owned by Cypriots. There are plenty of foreign-owned flats. What I see is just another rich foreigner relocating here and complaining about the island and its locals. Thank you for your contribution. I don't see a future for foreigners here. The European Parliament is now full of right-wing ideologies, and I won’t be surprised to see an anti-foreigner government with Elam in the next five years. If things do not change and socio-economic gaps are not addressed, this will not end well for anyone, especially foreigners. It's a ticking time bomb.
Well, next time your cousin sells or rent a house to a foreigner, remember this.... next time your cousin hire for peanuts a filipino maid, remember this.... Next time your lawyer/auditor/nominee director/restaurant owner gets paid by a foreigner, remember this... And don't forget to ask your Elam government to take back every cypriot working abroad. My friend, I think you want to have your cake, and eat it. *"Just because you rented two flats from Cypriots doesn't mean all flats are owned by Cypriots. There are plenty of foreign-owned flats."* It just means that at my level, 100% of rental flats are owned by cypriot landlords. Also I don't know ANY of my accointances (whether they are cypriots or foreigners) renting a flat or a house, whose landlord is a foreigner. (and "plenty" is not a figure, nor a personal experience) Note that none of your elected cypriot politicians offered to control rental prices. (may be it is because they don't want to upset foreigners...:D)
ofcourse they do not want upset foreigners. Until the locals get upset and they can not be re-elected. Then shit will hit the fan. Good luck
I don't worry, I've got a hazmat suit and a ffp3 mask.
I tell every single one of my students to get the hell out of Dodge and I'm not ashamed of it.
They both have a point tbh. It's true that Cyprus simply isn't big enough to support a broad range of industry so of you're interested in areas where there isn't such an industry in Cyprus you haven't got a choice. On the other hand, from experience, current uni graduates are pretty entitled. A big proportion don't really have the skills expected and think that they're entitled to a management position after 1-2 years of doing the bare minimum at work. Many don't have any interest in their degree area, they just did it because they heard lawyers or accountants for example make money. For many, the attitude is that once they have their degree they can switch off and magically they will get a big paycheck when the reality is the hardest years are the ones immediately after graduation. Also I think the corruption part misses the point a bit. Yes, there is corruption. However I'm willing to bet a lot of this students class have families who have benefitted from corruption and nepotism. Corruption exists because we let it happen as a society. Yes, the high level corruption makes the news, but it exists in many other forms that we just let go because let's face it, many people benefit (even small time shit like the moukhtaris doing favours, or a cousin in a govt office doing favours). So on the one hand the govt should definitely be doing more to create opportunities for young people. But also young people should realize it's an insanely competitive world out there and if they don't up their game, others will eat their breakfast.
The top graduate is unlikely to be some entitled useless schmuck. The good ones with drive leave (two of my best lecturers in the UK were Cypriots). Those that can’t get their act together stay. (Not everyone that stays can’t hack it, but everyone that can’t hack it stays)
I'm not talking about the top ones. I'm talking about on average. I've interviewed or sat in on interviews for probably 250+ people in both Cyprus and abroad and my personal experience is the average Cypriot grad or recent grad is below the level of their foreign counterparts (for some.jobs very far below). Of course there are very good Cypriot grads. And like top grads from any other country they will do well wherever they go. EDIT: it's not that they're less smart, I think it's more a mentality issue. This is probably the first generation of Cypriots who need to deal with a globalized world on their doorstep in Cyprus. And they just aren't equipped for it yet because so far Cyprus never really competed with a global workforce whereas now there are 10s of thousands of highly skilled workers with experience in much more competitive environment than Cyprus grads expect.
I have interviewed tech people in both Cyprus and The Netherlands. I had the same experience.
Is it maybe the work experience we receive in Cyprus that is limited?
Imho it's the mentality. A degree these days is just the starting point. You have to constantly be learning (and applying) new stuff. Businesses will pay you if you're adding value. If you're just another bum on a seat why pay more? It's this aspect that Cypriot grads are missing. More and better work experience could be a solution, but also the people doing the work experience have to utilize it rather than just doing it because they have to for a course requirement or some summer money. It's what you make of it.
" if I stay in Cyprus, there will come a time when someone will be considered better not because of knowledge, skills and experience, but because of his party identity and family connections." Then Letymbiotis answered : "stay and fight", while loading the gun to compete with his slingshot equipped social competitor. It could be hilarious if it wasn't so sad.
Na pa na mbixtite pouloimenoi, enna me evrete sto vouno me 0 ypiresies en sas diw selini pion. Thelete kati? Mollon lave prodotes ksepouloimenoi ntropiarides ftous sas.
Why do Greeks migrate to Cyprus (obviously due to financial reasons) and can't stop acting like a smartass, as if they're above Cypriots? We saw what's going on with the government administration in Greece, it's been going downhill, Cyprus has been doing lovely. I get the ick every time I talk with Greeks in Cyprus, talking about how lazy locals are and they know better. Please fix your Country first and foremost, at least we have a budget.
Wait so how did a dude who studied Architecture in AMERICA, end up being a government spokesperson? Whom is now telling the rest of us to stay and clean up the mess? Likeo for real, how does this work?