More than 500,000 Cypriots, in addition to some 6,000 nationals of other European Union members, will go to the polls on Saturday to elect six Euro MPs who will represent the Republic of Cyprus at the European Parliament.
The six seats are being contested by 47 candidates, most of whom represent the six parliamentary parties, while the rest running as independent or for other political movements.
The total number of Cypriot voters in Cyprus is 526.060 and according to official figures, voters in the Nicosia district reach 209.392, Famagusta district 28.616, Larnaka district 86.764, Limassol district 144.367, Pafos district 47.293 and voters abroad 9.628.
This number includes 344 enclaved (members of the Greek Cypriot community living in the northern Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus) who will cask their vote at a special polling station in Nicosia.
The total number of other EU citizens who are registered to vote in Cyprus is 6.458 (Austria 9, Belgium 3, Bulgaria 985, France 27, Germany 57, Denmark 6, Estonia 3, Greece 2.912, UK 1.349, Italy 19, Ireland 15, Spain 1, Lithuania 5, Latvia 19, Malta 1, the Netherlands 13, Hungary 11, Poland 114, Romania 835, Slovakia 42, Sweden 19, the Czech Republic six and Finland 7).
EP elections in Cyprus will take place Saturday 6th of June. This is the second time Cypriots are called to choose six deputies to represent their country at the EP. The first European poll took place shortly after Cyprus joined the EU, in 2004.
The official results of the European Parliament elections will be announced on Sunday night, June 7, after voting ends in all EU-member states, as provided by the EU.
Polling stations will open at 6 in the morning until 8 at night, with an hour break at noon. The counting of crosses of preference to candidates, according to initial estimates, is expected to begin as soon as polling stations close on 6th June 2009.
Turkish Cypriots residing in the southern government controlled part of the island will be able to vote at polling stations in the area they live and those who will come from the northern Turkish occupied part of the country will vote at polling stations near crossing points along the dividing line, that separates the country since the 1974 Turkish invasion.
The government will provide facilities for the enclaved – Greek Cypriots living in the northern Turkish occupied areas of the Republic – to vote in the southern government-controlled part of the country, in the European elections.
There are currently some 500 members of the Greek Cypriot community, still living in the northern Turkish occupied areas of the island, most of whom are elderly.
Voters can vote either by presenting their identity card or their election booklet.
Cyprus will participate for the second time in the EP elections. The first time was in June 2004, only one month after Cyprus’ accession to the EU. Cyprus is represented at the EP by six MEPs.
The Republic of Cyprus, an EU member state, has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied one third of its territory. Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot Leader Mehmet Ali Talat have been engaged in direct negotiations since September last year, with a view to reunite the country.
