MORE THAN 500,000 Cypriots will flock to polling stations today to cast their vote in the first major elections since the referendum on the Annan plan that bitterly divided the nation.
The election is widely seen as a vote in support of the policies of President Tassos Papadopoulos and the parties that supported him in his call on Greek Cypriots to reject the hated reunification plan in 2004.
Even the election campaign, which kicked off on issues of health, education, economy and other social issues, inevitably reverted back to the Annan plan in the run up to today’s polls as parties resorted to recreating much of the bitterness seen in the weeks leading up to the referendum.
Opinion polls predict that Papadopoulos` party DIKO will increase its share of the vote due to the policies that saw the plan rejected and which will likely shape the course of the Cyprus problem for at least the next two years until the presidential elections in 2008.
“It has become very clear over the course of the campaign that this election will be a vote of confidence in Papadopoulos,” said one political analyst. “More votes for DIKO will of course come at the expense of opposition DISY and perhaps also to an extent, coalition partner AKEL. Both parties have lost some of their rank and file over their positions on the plan.”
The DIKO-DISY-AKEL battle for votes could also negatively affect the smaller parties and prevent them from getting a foot in the door of parliament. Surveys showed that many voters, particularly younger voters, were still undecided.
Some voters are also torn between voting for pro-plan United Democrats to ensure the party secures at least one seat in the House, or voting for DISY to keep the party in the running and to make up for those who may defect to DIKO today.
Cyprus problem aside, this has by far been the lengthiest election campaign for the legislature with a record number of candidates, 487 hoping to gain a seat in parliament.
To win a seat, a candidate must receive at least 1.78 per cent of the ballots cast, or approximately 12,000 votes.
One novelty this year is the participation of some 270 Turkish Cypriots, who will cast their ballot at around 30 polling stations. A Turkish Cypriot, poet Nese Yiasin, is also standing for parliament for the United Democrats.
The last legislative elections five years ago were close, with AKEL garnering 34.7 per cent of the votes and 20 seats in the House, edging out DISY who got 34 per cent and 19 seats. The Democratic Party (DIKO) came in third, with 14.8 per cent and nine seats.
With the campaign officially ending on Friday at midnight, Electoral Commissioner Lazaros Savvides called on both politicians and the media to play by the rules.
Political advertising and the publication of election polls were banned yesterday and today and TV channels may release exit polls only once the last ballot has been cast. News channels scrambled yesterday for stories as the political arena remained unusually silent.
Polling stations are expected to close around 5pm today.
Savvides said he acknowledged that TV networks were under pressure to report results, but cautioned against cheating.
“Let’s try not to stretch things to the limit,” he said, adding that it was at his discretion to extend voting hours if necessary.
Barring the unexpected, the final results – percentages and seats – should start trickling out around 8.30pm. However, a second and third recount will take place, and election officers will be working until 3am tomorrow morning.
Savvides himself would announce the outcome at Nicosia’s International Conference Centre. TV networks will receive constant feedback from the centre.
The colour of the ballot slips will be white for Nicosia, yellow for Limassol, blue for Famagusta, pink for Larnaca, green for Paphos and cherry-red for Kyrenia.
Ballots will be considered void if unclearly marked or if more than one candidates are ticked.
A total of 1,216 polling stations will operate throughout the country, plus 16 more for Maronites, Armenians and Catholics.
n For information on where to vote or other enquiries, the following numbers may be contacted between 8am to 6pm:
Nicosia: 22804118, 22804121, 22804222, 22804295
Limassol: 25806443, 25806450, 25806451, 25806455, 25806456
Famagusta: 24801002, 24801005
Larnaca: 24801852, 24801854, 24801858, 24801868, 24801872
Paphos: 26801143, 26801144
Central Elections Service: 22867614, 22867639, 22867643, 22867713
Alternatively, information can be obtained on the official elections website on the Internet. By typing in your ID number and date of birth, you can find the polling station that you must visit.
This information is available at the following websites:
www.vouleftikes2006.gov.cy, www.ekloges.gov.cy, www.moi.gov.cy and www.pio.moi.gov.cy.
Analysts predict that this year AKEL and DISY will lose support to the smaller parties, particularly DIKO and socialists EDEK.
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