Eleni Mavrou becomes the first female mayor of Nicosia

Eleni Mavrou, the candidate of the ruling coalition comprising left-wing AKEL, the Democratic Party and the Social Democrats Movement EDEK, became the first female mayor of the divided capital of Nicosia.
During the municipal elections, Mavrou received a total of 9781 votes or 34.93%, against independent Anna Marangou, who was backed by main opposition party Democratic Rally (DISI) who secured 9007 votes or 32.17%. Outgoing mayor, independent Michalakis Zampellas garnered 7650 or 27.32% while independent candidate Nicos Mesaritis secured 1562 or 5.58%.
Born in Kyrenia on 2 February 1961, Mavrou studied Civil Engineering at the Higher Technical Institute and then gained her undergraduate degree at the University of London in Politics and International Relations.
She was actively involved in the students’ movement during her studies and later in the progressive, left youth movement of Cyprus. She served as General Secretary of the United Democratic Youth Organization (E.D.O.N.)
In 1986 she was elected member of the Nicosia Municipal Council a post in which she was reelected in 1991.
Mavrou became a member of the House of Representatives in 1991 and was re-elected during the 2006 elections.
She is a member of the Central Committee of AKEL since 1990.
Eleni Mavrou is the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on the Environment and member of the Committees on Human Rights and Interior.
She is member of the delegation of the House to the E.U.-Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee and was recently appointed as representative of the House to the Convention for the Future of Europe.