Cyprus Election Result Requires Coalition Government

Lorys Charalambous, Tax-News.com, Nicosia

29 May 2001

Parliamentary elections took place in Cyprus on Sunday, and all eight parties contesting the election will be represented in the new House of Representatives, the eighth since Cyprus' independence in 1960.

The final results give AKEL the most votes with 34.71%, followed by the Democratic Rally party (DISY) with 34%. Centre-right DIKO has 14.84%, while the Social Democrats (ISOS) have 6.51%.

Of the small parties, the New Horizons received 3.00%, the United Democrats 2.59%, ADIK 2.16% and the Ecologists Movement 1.98%.

The proportional representation system requires that a party obtains an electoral threshold of 1.8% of votes in order to enter parliament. None of the independent candidates received more than 0.1%.

Interior Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou expressed satisfaction with the "order, calmness, smoothness and impeccable manner, in which the voting was carried out". Chief Returning Officer Kyriacos Triantaphyllides also expressed satisfaction with the voting and noted that nearly 92% of registered voters exercised their right to vote.

Voting in Cyprus is compulsory for all Greek Cypriots over 18, including the enclaved in the Turkish occupied north, Latins, Maronites, Armenians and others who are citizens of the Republic of Cyprus through naturalization.

The term of office of the House of Representatives is for five years.

This is the first time that AKEL has succeeded in capturing the leading position in 20 years. The left-wing party had presented itself as open-minded about policies and also about the formation of a coalition, which will of course now be necessary.

Previously ruling party DISY, which managed to close the gap separating it from AKEL despite predictions to the contrary, declared that it had heard the voters' message loud and clear and would turn a new page from today.

All political parties have started making hints regarding coalitions in view of the election of Chairman of the House of Representatives, as it has become clear that none of the parties is capable of electing a House President without the support of others. It seems very likely that AKEL will make a claim for the post. Negotiations and talks between the various parties will start today.

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