Poll shows Malas edging ahead of Papadopoulos

President Nicos Anastasiades is expected to be the winner of January’s presidential elections a poll published on Sunday said, while Akel-backed independent candidate, Stavros Malas, was for the first time tipped to make the second round.

According to a poll carried out by Noverna, on behalf of Politis, Malas, for the first time, edges ahead of Diko leader Nicolas Papadopoulos, who had been consistently second in the polls so far. Only a recent poll for CyBC’s had the two men tied in second place, both with a 13.5 per cent share.

The poll showed Anastasiades way ahead with 30.4 per cent of the vote, while Malas received 17.8 per cent and Papadopoulos 13.8per cent.

The survey also showed candidate of far right Elam, Christos Christou, taking 3.3per cent, ahead of the leader of Citizens’ Alliance Yiorgos Lillikas who was on 2.1per cent. Bank bondholders’ candidate Phivos Mavrovouniotis was on 1.1 per cent.

Assuming the undecided “move proportionally to the rates, then in the first Sunday vote Anastasiades is expected to move at around 44per cent, Malas at 25per cent and Nikolas Papadopoulos at 20per cent,” Noverna said.

In the run-off election, Anastasiades was forecasted to win the contest with either opponents, the poll found.

In an Anastasiades-Papadopoulos showdown, the president would take 37.3per cent of the vote and Papadopoulos 26.7 per cent. Against Malas Anastasiades would take 39.9per cent against his opponent’s 26.6 per cent.

The poll was carried out between November 20 and December 5, via computer  assisted telephone interviewing of 805 randomly selected respondents over 18.

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