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Government and parliament members, politicians and local governors will not use limousines anymore.

Yesterday internal affairs minister Yannis Ragousis “cut down” the state cars of bishops, chief secretaries, hospital directors and mayors, from the state budget. Until the end of 2010 the other state cars will be replaced with 1400 cubic hybrids, which will be bought on lease.

And so the end of limousines for parliament members and other state employees came. The ones, who will be able to use 1600 cubic cars now, are the president, the Prime Minister, the chairman and deputy chairman of the National Assembly and another 40-50 high political figures.

According to the decision of the ministry, purchase of new cars will be forbidden in the following years and each state office will be able to have up to 5 state cars, unless it can prove it needs more. With those changes the government will lower gas expenses with 30%, which until now cost the treasury €225 million per year. The hybrids will be bought on lease, in order to lower the price for their maintenance, which will aggravate the company selling them.

Right now the state owns 58 000 cars, which cost it €350 million per year, including gas and maintenance. This includes ambulances, trash trucks, police cars and firefighting trucks. State cars used in the state sector are about 20 000 and the ministry of internal affairs has 250 cars, which cost to tax payers €750 000. Based on results of a survey done by the Polytechnic University Metsovio in Athens, daily 6.5 million courses are scheduled, out of which 2.6 are of state cars.