Independents get less than one per cent

SIX OTHER candidates fought yesterday’s election battle, all of whom secured less than one per cent of the vote.

Top of the pile of independents was MEP Marios Matsakis who was a latecomer to the presidential race. Already well known to the public, Matsakis managed to secure the highest number of votes among the independents, walking away with 3,500 in total, or 0.77 per cent of the vote.

His nearest rival was Costas Kyriacou, also known as Utoupos, who has run in numerous presidential races in Cyprus. Utoupos secured 1,092 votes or 0.24 per cent, even more than Costas Themistocleous, a former government minister.
Themistocleous won 753 votes or 0.17 per cent.

Andreas Efstratiou ended with 713 votes, Christodoulos Neophytou 243 and Anastasi Michael 117 votes.

Matsakis won most of his votes in Nicosia, where he secured 1,537 and Limassol 1,090.

Speaking to the Cyprus Mail last night he said it had been difficult because the three main candidates had worked so hard to secure every single vote.

“For someone who was not supported by any party or campaign and who didn’t do a single advertisement and who continued to work as an MEP, to get even the small number of thousands is not a small achievement,” Matsakis said.

Commenting on the overall results, Matsakis said he had congratulated Kasoulides and Christofias.

“I think the main thing now is to focus on the Cyprus problem, which is still with us.

Nothing has changed and we still have a crisis situation, especially after the Kosovo issue,” he said.

“There is a need for unity in Cyprus and this is what we must do. We must look for things that unite us and not things that divide us.”