Cyprus Parties Fight It Out To Dominate House Of Representatives

by Lorys Charalambous, Tax-News.com, Nicosia

31 May 2001

Following the inconclusive Cyprus election that took place last Sunday, intensive jockeying is going on between the two major and six minor parties before a vote in the House of House of Representatives in Nicosia on June 7th to elect the President of the new chamber. The arrival of three new parliamentary parties - ADIK, New Horizons and the Greens - adds an extra layer of unpredictability to the contest.

DISY and AKEL, the two main parties, who won nearly equal shares of the popular vote, and hence of seats in the House, are fielding their leaders for the post; in practice, the coalition which triumphs in that election has power in the country.

DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades and AKEL chief Demetris Christofias are challenged by veteran KISOS leader Dr Vassos Lyssarides, but his party's dismal showing in the polls had weakened his bargaining strength, and he is widely expected to resign after leading his party to its worst electoral showing for 20 years.

Elections for the House presidency are seen as a test-run for the real thing: the 2003 Presidential elections. With neither left-wingers AKEL nor right-wingers DISY having the strength within parliament or amongst the electorate to win either the June 7 or the 2003 vote outright, the key lies in striking up an agreement with one or more of the smaller parties.

DIKO, with nine parliamentary seats, would be the best coalition bet for both AKEL and DISY (who have 20 and 19 seats respectively). DIKO are not interested in getting one of their own into the House presidency seat and would favour a "personality of general acceptance", party official Andreas Angelides said yesterday.

DIKO would most likely favour an alliance with AKEL rather than with DISY, but they would probably want AKEL first to agree to back DIKO leader Tassos Papadopoulos in 2003. AKEL are apparently loath to back Papadopoulos for next President.

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