Turkish Cypriot mukhtar for Paphos village

FOR the first time since 1974, the village of Androlikou in the Paphos district is to have a Turkish Cypriot community leader.

Hasan Mustafa was among those submitting their candidacies on Monday for village councils across Cyprus in the municipal elections on December 17. He was the only candidate for Androlikou, a Turkish Cypriot village abandoned since 1974. The only two candidates for council members in the village are also Turkish Cypriots – one of them being Mustafa’s father, who was one of the only inhabitants to remain in the village after 1974.

Androlikou had an estimated 630 inhabitants in 1964. There are now four Turkish Cypriot families living permanently in the village, one of which moved there after 2003.
Mustafa says he hopes his election to the village council will lead to the return of other Turkish Cypriots to the community. “I want to resurrect this ghost,” he said, and “give it life like all other communities in Cyprus.”

In Kidasi village, again in the Paphos district, there is only one registered voter who has not expressed any interest in being elected village head.

The case highlights the declining rural life in Cyprus. In many village communities there was no competition and new councils will be formed without the need for an election.

In 29 communities in the Nicosia district, it will not be necessary to hold elections as the candidates were equal to the positions available. In the Limassol district, 37 candidates will be appointed unopposed. In areas where there was no interest for the posts, the village council will be appointed instead.

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