Voters in Cyprus cast ballots to elect a new president, with a runoff election likely necessary due to the close competition between candidates.
The 2023 Cypriot presidential election, held on February 5, saw a three-way race between former foreign minister Nikos Christodoulides, right-wing DISY party leader Averof Neophytou, and career diplomat Andreas Mavroyiannis. Despite the election results not providing specific information about the frontrunners' policy stances, this article offers some context and general information about the election and the key issues at hand.
Cypriot politics traditionally revolve around discussions about economic development, the reunification of the island, European integration, and security issues. Social policies and education also feature prominently in political discourse. In the 2023 election, candidates likely emphasized their strategies for economic growth, investments in key sectors, and the role of tourism.
The issue of reunification and the ongoing dispute with Northern Cyprus was a critical point of discussion. As a member of the EU, candidates would have also discussed how to strengthen Cyprus's position within the EU and leverage European policies for national benefit.
In the lead-up to the election, the campaign was dominated by issues such as corruption, a deadlocked peace process, labor disputes related to inflation, and irregular migration. The election of a president who would rule with honesty, fairness, and transparency was a key concern for many voters, as expressed in an editorial in the liberal daily newspaper Politis.
Weather forecasters predicted heavy rain and storms on election day, which could have affected voter turnout. However, polling stations opened at 0500 GMT and closed at 1600 GMT, and approximately 561,000 Greek Cypriots were eligible to vote.
Opinion polls predicted no frontrunner would secure an outright majority, resulting in a runoff. Fiona Mullen, director of Sapienta Economics, suggested that if elected, Mavroyiannis is least likely to continue Anastasiades' policies, while Christodoulides may be more similar. The election indeed resulted in a runoff on February 12 due to no clear winner.
In 2020, while Christodoulides was foreign minister, Cyprus held out on EU sanctions against Belarus to push for action against Turkey in a gas dispute. According to Mullen, Christodoulides' foreign policy is expected to be more assertive than Anastasiades' in his final years.
It's important to note that for more specific details about the election, candidates, and their policy stances, one might need to refer to news articles or official statements from the time of the election. Cyprus has complied with all sanctions against Belarus and Russia, a close ally, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
All three main contenders have been close associates of the outgoing president, Nicos Anastasiades. Phileleftheros, a bigger-selling newspaper, highlighted expectations of high voter abstention. The outcome of the 2023 Cypriot presidential election will undoubtedly shape the future of this Mediterranean island nation.
Politics surrounding the 2023 Cypriot presidential election were heavily influenced by general-news topics such as economic development, the reunification of the island, European integration, and security issues. In addition, candidates likely discussed social policies, education, and the role of tourism during the campaign.
The ongoing dispute with Northern Cyprus and Cyprus's position within the EU were critical points of discussion among the candidates, with strategies for economic growth and investments in key sectors also being a focus. The election, which resulted in a runoff, was dominated by issues such as corruption, a deadlocked peace process, labor disputes, and irregular migration.
