Reuniting
In all, nine candidacies were submitted, with a run off election is set for February 4 if no candidate secures 50% plus one vote from the first round.
Incumbent President Nicos Anastasiades, said that the day after the elections must find everyone united for the sake of the country. He expressed certainty that a mild political climate will prevail until election day.
“What we have achieved so far did not happen by chance. It was the result of collective action by the government, but above all it was the outcome of the cooperation and the support of the employers’ organisations and the trade unions, as well as people’s sacrifices,” he said.
Anastasiades outlined his vision for a free Cyprus that will be truly independent, stressing that if people vote for him and he is re-elected he will do his utmost to promote reforms and the necessary cooperation that will create the prospects for a free country and for the prosperity of all the people.
Stavros Malas, who is supported by left-wing AKEL, said that if elected he will govern as president of all Cypriots and invited the people to trust in him. His candidacy was proposed by former President Yiorgos Vassiliou.
Malas said that the next five years will be a period of major political decisions on the
He stressed that his main concern is a rapid solution to the
Furthermore he said that we will not be able to speak about a sustainable development of the economy, because the economy and its development are closely linked with the settlement of the
Democratic Party (DIKO) President Nicholas Papadopoulos said that “our proposals put forward something new”, adding that citizens will bring about change. Papadopoulos’ candidacy was proposed by the veteran socialist and EDEK founder Vassos Lyssarides.
Papadopoulos said that a vast social majority wants to end policies that have failed, to bring dignity back to the people, address injustices, reinforce the social state, develop the economy and combat corruption.
Citizens Alliance Movement President Yiorgos Lillikas said that his candidacy expresses an alternative policy, a new course for the
Lillikas noted that “our social obligation is to hand over a better Cyprus to our children, a state that will serve and respect its citizens, that will be effective and will function with transparency, giving equal opportunities to its citizens on the basis of meritocracy.”
Furthermore, he said that “our obligation is to hand over to our children a modern economy, an effective and competitive economy, that will bring growth, create working positions with decent wages and bring welfare.”
The leader of far-right party ELAM Christos Christou said the only clear voice is that of his party. “We appeal to the people with the message that if they want change and are done with the old, corrupted and rotten, then the only clear voice is that of
Another presidential hopeful Haris Aristidou said the aim of his bid is his opposition to “the bigoted, bizonal, bicommunal federation, with a wrong or right content”. He also said he supports the “right of self determination” and expressed his opposition to drug lords and the police, which he described as “corrupt”.
Christakis Kapiliotis said his candidacy appeals to all the people of
Andreas Efstratiou said his candidacy is a bid to represent those on the margins of society. He said the forthcoming elections are critical and referred to poverty and unemployment as well as the injustice that prevails in society. This is the tenth time he is running for election.
Michalis Mina, President of the Justice Party, strongly criticised the media, claiming journalists are involved in illegal activities and bribery. He also criticised political parties for spending more than a million euro in the pre-election campaign and bribing voters, adding that the people will cast their vote on January 28.
