GREEK Cypriots yesterday delivered a resounding ‘no’ to the policies of incumbent Tassos Papadopoulos, ousting him from the presidential race and sending conservative Ioannis Kasoulides and communist Demetris Christofias to a runoff vote.
What was widely expected to be a nail-bitter, quickly turned into a victorious night for DISY’s Kasoulides, who pulled an upset and finished first with 33.51 per cent of the vote.
It became evident around an hour after polls closed that Kasoulides, whom polls in the run-up to Sunday had shown in the third place, would actually emerge victorious.
Christofias, 61, who will now battle it out with 59-year-old MEP Kasoulides in the runoff, trailed with 33.29 per cent.
Papadopoulos received 31.79 per cent of the vote in what is seen as a no-confidence vote for the policies of a man who led the rejection of the Annan plan in 2004, calling for and receiving a “resounding no”.
“Today the first step was made so that altogether we will create the tomorrow we deserve, the tomorrow we dream of,” Kasoulides told hundreds of jubilant supporters outside his campaign headquarters. “Now we can make the second and more defining step.”
Kasoulides was joined by Glafcos Clerides, DISY’s historical leader who arrived on the premises to a boisterous welcome.
It was a similar scene outside Christofias’ headquarters, where hundreds of flag-waving supporters braved rain and cold from early on to celebrate the AKEL chief’s first round victory.
“I bow before the Cypriot people,” said Christofias, who was flanked by former president George Vassiliou.
At Papadopoulos’ headquarters, just down the road from Kasoulides, the incumbent conceded defeat in an atmosphere of gloom.
“The people have judged and decided,” Papadopoulos said. “My thoughts, decisions and actions were always guided by my love for the country and care for the people.”
But even before the celebrations had died down, both Kasoulides and Christofias made overtures to Papadopoulos, DIKO and EDEK, seeking support in the runoff vote.
“The time has come to overcome all that divided the Cypriot people, especially in the past few years,” Kasoulides said in a clear reference to the April 2004 referendum in which his party backed the Annan plan, which the overwhelming majority of Greek Cypriots rejected – the same majority Papadopoulos was banking for re-election.
In a clear opening to Papadopoulos, Kasoulides listed the “fundamental beliefs” that unite the two camps – Europe and European values, free economy, love for the country and faith in a better future.
“The time has come in this critical juncture to unite our forces, remember all that unites us and open a road of confidence and optimism for our country,” Kasoulides said.
Christofias referred to “dilemmas” shared with the leaderships and the people of DIKO, EDEK, the Greens and other movements, with which we “fought common struggles for progressive solutions and problems of our people.”
The communist leader sought to appease the hardline DIKO voters, who think Christofias would make concessions to the Turkish side.
“We will never accept a solution which does not fulfil the basic principles we have moulded all these years. We will never accept a solution for the sakes of a solution,” Christofias said, announcing meetings with DIKO and EDEK this week.
