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Republic Of Cyprus Set To Witness Second Round Of Presidential Elections

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The Republic of Cyprus is set to witness a close-fought second round of presidential elections next week, with former foreign minister Nikos Christodoulides facing career diplomat Andreas Mavroyiannis.

 

Both candidates failed to secure a majority of the vote in the first round, with Christodoulides leading the race with 32.04% of the vote, followed by Mavroyiannis with 29.58%.

 

The winner of the presidential election will need to secure 50% plus one of the vote to succeed two-term President Nicos Anastasiades. Christodoulides, the pre-poll favorite, has stated that he is ready to take on the responsibility of the presidency and remains committed to his position of forming a government with broad acceptance.

 

Averof Neofytou, who was endorsed by the incumbent, saw a disappointing third-place finish with 26.11% of the vote. This result has shaken his future as the leader of the governing conservative party DISY, as he is the first DISY candidate not to progress from the first round in the party’s history.

 

The interior ministry reported a 72.03% voter turnout, with more than 561,000 eligible voters, including 10,346 Cypriots abroad.

 

 

Analysts were surprised by Mavroyiannis’ strong showing, as he is a 66-year-old technocrat backed by the communist party AKEL, who managed to squeeze out Neofytou and close the gap with Christodoulides.

 

The election was dominated by concerns over corruption, the economy, and the island’s long-standing division, which has remained at an impasse for decades. The cash-for-passports scandal and the pressure of irregular migration on public resources were among the top concerns for voters. Cyprus has been split since 1974, when Turkish forces occupied the northern third of the island in response to a Greek-sponsored coup.

 

Despite inflation slowing to 7.1% in January, high energy and food prices remain a major concern for the population. The younger generation is also facing challenges such as low salaries and high rents, which are expected to be addressed by the next president. A record 14 candidates, including only two women, participated in the first round, with the extreme right-wing party Elam securing fourth place with their candidate, party leader Christos Christou, garnering 6% of the vote. Mavroyiannis has previously dismissed any cooperation with extremists, putting Elam’s support for the next president in question.

Victoria Philip is not only a Journalist but also a talented fiction writer. You can reach her on this numbers, 08135853903, 09112869878

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