THE presidential campaign has been going on for eight months now – posters, banners, manifestos and brochures, campaign logos, slogans, TV ads, websites, sms and e-mail messages, exit polls, speeches, debates, concerts with famous and not so famous artists. The list of political clich?s goes on…
So how do the people feel today that it has come to an end? Campaign messages may have the potential of determining the outcome of an election, but have the people had enough? What if they need more time? What if they have had an overload of information to process?
“It was tiring,” admitted George, a middle aged textile-seller from Nicosia told the Mail. “People have had enough of watching them fighting over a ‘seat’. I am not that into politics so nothing from this whole campaign has moved me.
“Thank God it’s over and we can find our peace again. Too many words and promises are unnecessary,” he added.
N.A. from Nicosia agreed it had all gone on too long: “The eight months were very long and very dull for many people. However, for the politicised it was very interesting and exciting. It is the right thing for people to be informed and show interest, but the campaigns became a little confusing towards the end.
“Sometimes, they were decent and other times they would result in calumnies, and the whole attitude was very anti-European. I am looking forward to the opening of the ballots.”
A pensioner from Phaneromeni felt such campaigns were inevitable: “Whether we like them or not they have to happen, and they did.”
“As for me, I believe it was useless because I have my political views anyway. Campaigns are pointless to me, it is as if there was no election campaign whatsoever.”
Lenia, a restaurant owner from old Nicosia, felt the campaign had been bruising. “We have heard a lot from both sides, and all that these campaigns managed to do is divide people even more.”
Dinos Katchis, a shop owner in Ledra Street, has also had enough: “I am definitely relieved it’s over as it got very nasty towards the end with all the stupid and insulting sms and e-mails. Because the centre is absent from this campaign, the balance is gone, hence the nastiness.”
And Persa Kountouri, a boutique owner in Regina Street, sighed with relief: “It’s over. I feel calm, relaxed and am now awaiting the result of the ballot.”
Her views were echoed by Angelina, a 27-year-old government employee: “No more accusations and no more TV ads of Kasoulides and Christofias, I am happy it’s finally over, no one deserves the presidency. After Tassos was out, I lost interest.”
Popi, 32-year-old marketing director from Nicosia, added: “They overdid it with everything, we are fed up, I am glad we’ve reached the end!” While, Lia, 27, from Strovolos, was “thrilled it’s over” – “the same promises over and over again, and for so long that they are echoing in our heads”
Nikoletta is a first-time voter: “I don’t know if it’s because I was younger and couldn’t vote in previous elections, but I don’t remember previous campaigns being as long as this one.
“It seemed like the longest campaign ever!”
But not everyone had had enough. Aristos Drakos feels the campaign was important: “It helped people understand that political parties and organisations cannot move voters from one side to the other.
“Personally, I enjoyed the entire lengthy campaign because I was analysing everything that was said and I was very interested.”
In fact, he felt it had not been long enough: “I believe that more time would be more appropriate, say two weeks at least after the first round and not just one. By this, people would understand things better and the candidates would pass on their real messages, and people would have more time to question the alliances,” said Drakos.
Minas too is almost sad it’s over: “It was quite entertaining. It made me laugh.”
But they are the exception. Margarita, a 26-year-old horticulturalist from Limassol, was relieved it was coming to an end. “The debates on TV led to debates in the work-place with colleagues, in caf?s with friends, everywhere you go people are arguing and trying to support what they believe is right, what they were taught to believe is right – or left,” she smiled. “I hope with the end of this campaign things will go back to normal and people will talk about other things.
“It was a lengthy campaign and it started to bore us,” she added. “I hope its end will bring a good result for Cyprus. We have heard enough, we were troubled enough and I hope that with the new leader we will find a good solution for Cyprus.”
