REPRINTING 575,000 ballot papers began yesterday after the original batch was scrapped as they depicted the alleged unauthorised use of the Guinness World Records logo by one of the candidates.
The reprint will cost the state roughly €40,000, and the electoral services are looking into the issue of legal culpability on the part of presidential candidate Andreas Efstratiou.
Efstratiou used the Guinness World Records logo on four previous election ballot papers, and claims that as a world record holder, he has express permission to use it wherever he pleases.
But Chief Returning Officer, Andreas Ashiotis, rejected the claims yesterday after an email he received from Guinness World Records Ltd on Tuesday informed him that Efstratiou had been contacted in 2011 and told he was not permitted to use the logo on any more electoral ballots.
“In 2008 when Mr Efstratiou was a candidate, he presented the interior ministry with documentation claiming that Guinness World Records had informed him he could use their logo wherever he wanted,” Ashiotis said.
“On Tuesday I emailed the Guinness World Records company to explain to them that the use of their logo on the Republic of Cyprus’ ballot papers was taken on good faith from Mr Efstratiou who had assured the interior ministry that he was allowed to use the logo wherever he wanted,” Ashiotis said.
“As the ballot papers had already been printed we asked Guinness World Records for permission to use their logo and if they had any objections we would ensure the logo would not be used again,” he added.
According to Ashiots, the company replied that although they understood the Republic’s predicament, they could not condone the use of their logo as they had warned Efstratiou in 2011 that he was not allowed to use the logo for any electoral purposes. “If he was aware of the letter then he should have informed the electoral services,” Ashiotis said. “The legal services will be consulted and if it is discovered that he was aware of the letter from the company then we will proceed accordingly,” he added
Efstratiou claimed yesterday that he received no such notice from Guinness World Records, denying any responsibility for the ditching of the ballot papers. “I am not aware of any letter from 2011 informing me that I was not allowed to use their logo,” he said. “I will be speaking with my lawyer who will examine the ministry’s claim that I am liable for the destroyed papers and Guinness World Records’ claim that I received notice not to use their logo again for any elections,” he added.
Asked if he was willing to pay the expense of replacing the discarded ballot papers to show good faith towards the state, Efstratiou protested that he has eight children and Cyprus was currently going through a crisis.
Ashiotis said he would be speaking with the Attorney-general to determine whether Efstratiou could be held responsible for the discarded ballot papers and the reprinting of new ones. “I will speak to the state printers to find out exactly how much the cost of reprinting the ballots will be and then speak with the Attorney-General to find out if the cost can be charged to Efstratiou,” he said. Ashiotis had spoken to the Attorney-general prior to the decision to destroy the ballot papers and had agreed that there was no other way out. “He expressed his desire for the elections to run smoothly, without any problems and so we came to the decision that the papers needed to be scrapped to avoid any conflict,” he said.
Efstratiou broke the world record for creating the longest wedding dress train, measuring 1,362 metres, which he created in 2007.
He is a businessman from Paphos, and in 2003 won 606 votes and in 2008, 713 votes. His company, Efstratiou Weddings is a wedding planner. When registering his candidacy for president Efstratiou asked people to support him because politicians had failed them.
