DIKO to support Christofias candidacy

The Democratic Party has decided to support the candidacy of House President and AKEL Secretary General Demetris Christofias in Sunday’s second and final round of presidential elections.

Member of the European Parliament Ioannis Kasoulides is the other candidate who will contest the run off election.

During voting that took place among the members of DIKO Central Committee, 112 members voted for Christofias’ candidacy and 50 in favour of Kasoulides’ candidacy. Nine abstained and another nine cast a blank vote.

The result of the vote was announced at one o’ clock in the morning today after a meeting of the Central Committee which lasted more than seven hours, which was convened after meetings of the Secretariat and the Executive Bureau of the party.

DIKO President Marios Karoyian said that “everybody in the Democratic Party will support the candidacy which the majority of the Central Committee voted for” adding that this decision serves the interests of the country and the party.

In a first reaction to DIKO’s decision, in a statement on behalf of Kasoulides’ electoral bureau Tasos Mitsopoulos said that DIKO’s decision is respected. At the same time he said that Kasoulides’ candidacy is supported by citizens from all political parties and expressed faith in the judgment of the people.

During the first round of the elections, Kasoulides secured 150.996 votes or 33.51%, Christofias 150,016 or 33.29%, and current President Tassos Papadopoulos, who was supported by DIKO 143,249 or 31.79%.