Government criticises parliament on decision to scrap social support agency

Government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis on Friday described parliament’s decision to abolish the social support body as “regrettable”.

The House voted to dismantle the body, which provided financial assistance to disadvantaged students, transferring its operations and assets to the state scholarships foundation.

The move came after MPs rejected two government bills proposing alternative arrangements for its oversight and management.

Letymbiotis attributed the outcome to “petty political expediencies”, arguing that the decision undermines institutional stability and public trust.

“There cannot be a horizontal devaluation of the police, the judiciary or the state,” he affirmed, linking the development to wider criticism of institutions in the wake of recent allegations in the public sphere.

He stressed that any claims should be formally submitted to the competent authorities, adding that “all complaints will be investigated”.

MPs backing the bill said the change would ensure greater transparency while avoiding “administrative duplication”, maintaining that support for students would continue under a more structured framework.

The social support agency had faced growing scrutiny following the ‘Videogate’ controversy and an audit office report which suggested it gave the impression of a system linked to influence or expected benefit.

Donations to the fund had surged sharply in 2023, raising further concerns over oversight and accountability.

The government, however, had proposed different mechanisms for reform, including transferring responsibilities to the state treasury and creating a dedicated account under state supervision, both of which were rejected by parliament.