Fragmentation looms as record number of hopefuls seek seats in Cyprus vote

Election run billboard of a campaigner for Cyprus parliamentary election, to beryllium held connected May 24, is placed connected a street successful Nicosia, Wednesday. [Yiannis Kourtoglou/Reuters]

A grounds fig of candidates submitted bids for Cyprus’ May 24 parliamentary predetermination connected Wednesday successful a contention which could signifier 1 of the astir fragmented ‌legislatures successful the island’s past and weaken the power of three parties supporting incumbent president Nikos Christodoulides.

Some 753 radical representing much than 15 parties oregon themselves enactment their names guardant for 56 seats successful the House of Representatives. Cyprus has ⁠a statesmanlike system of government, with the vote result apt to beryllium a motion of trends for the presidency successful 2028. The erstwhile parliament had 7 governmental parties represented.

Polls amusement three parties supporting Christodoulides – the centrist DIKO, DIPA and EDEK – losing ground, with the far-right ELAM enactment making gains. Newcomers ALMA, headed by erstwhile auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides, look acceptable to win astatine slightest 8-10% of ‌the ⁠vote.

Michaelides was instrumental successful revealing shortcomings successful a passports-for-cash strategy which gave wealthy foreigners EU passports successful instrumentality for investments. Frequently criticized by the EU, it was dismantled by authorities aft a string of exposures ⁠in 2020.

Opinion polls are showing corruption precocious connected voters’ agenda, said expert Fiona Mullen. “I think this will beryllium rather a large protestation vote against ⁠what voters spot arsenic a system that conscionable rewards insiders,” she told Reuters. The acold right, ELAM, is acceptable to go ⁠the third-largest enactment successful parliament, mirroring trends crossed Europe.

“It’s a by-product of the fiscal situation with radical trying to find radical to blame,” she said. [Reuters]