Presidential election unlikely to be fought on line as candidates struggle to get websites started
THE Cyprus Mail was yesterday alerted to a website called www.xristofias.com, referring to the candidacy of presidential candidate Demetris Christofias.
However, this is not the official Christofias site, which is www.christofias.com.cy, leading to the hunch that some go-getter might have registered the domain name www.xristofias.com, anticipating that at some point the AKEL people would be interested – and perhaps fork out a handsome sum to get it.
The suspicions were enhanced by the contents of the web page: the figure ‘10,000’ spelled out in European numerals. Was the owner asking for £10,000 for the domain name?
Still, there was one thing that didn’t fit in with this theory: clicking on www.xristofias.com takes the browser to the official Christofias site, so clearly there was a link between the two.
Incidentally, the official site is currently under construction, and bears the logo of the AKEL election campaign, roughly translated as “Politics with humanity.”
The Mail was able to track down the administrator of the apparently rogue website, who explained the situation. The man, who preferred to remain anonymous, described himself as a “dedicated member of AKEL” who took the initiative to put Christofias’ campaign on the internet.
So, earlier this year, he set up www.xristofias.com. But it seems the idea was ignored and all but forgotten by the powers that be, at least until very recently when the communist party finally decided to get its act together and go online.
“Better late than never I guess,” the source said, lamenting the fact the Kasoulides camp had got a head start on them.
Though the Mail could not reach the administrator of Christofias’ website, the source reckoned that the page should be up and running “in a matter of days.”
As for the enigmatic number ‘10,000’, he said it could mean any number of things.
“But it’s not about money, that’s for sure,” he added.
For the record, subsequent to the Mail’s conversation with the source, www.xristofias.com was no longer accessible as of last night.
AKEL’s IT gurus and strategists may be falling behind Kasoulides’ machine, but the election staff of incumbent Tassos Papadopoulos are faring little better.
Papadopoulos’ election site (www.tassospapadopoulos.com) is, similarly, under construction, but already there is something odd about it.
Under the banner “Get Involved – Yes, I would like to know more about the website, and I state my support for Tassos Papadopoulos,” you are asked to supply your first and last names, your email address and mobile phone number (the latter is optional). Once you do that, you will receive a confirmation email in your inbox.
And all that even before the website has been launched.
Kasoulides’ virtual election campaign wins hands down. There are actually two websites: one is the candidate’s personal site (www.kasoulides.com), the other the Cyprus 21 Coalition specially geared for the 2008 elections.
According to one of the administrators, together the two sites generate around 1,000 hits a day. Text and video clips featuring statements by Kasoulides are uploaded daily, he said.
Actually, www.kasoulides.com was registered as far back as 2003. The Cyprus 21 Coalition website was launched on June13, the day Kasoulides announced he would be running for president.
The source speaking to the Mail said that “a whole team of volunteers” were working on the websites.
Asked in general whether the election battle had gone online, he said Cyprus was still some way off.
“It will definitely play a part in the campaign, but not as much as in other countries.”
He also seized the chance to take a dig at the Papadopoulos web page, saying that it was “unacceptable for it to require your name and mobile.
“On our website, you only need to give a valid email to subscribe to our newsletter,” he said.
