With fewer Cypriots casting their vote in the previous European Parliament Elections in 2014, the picture is not expected to change in this year’s ballot to be held on 26 May.
The first European elections in Cyprus in 2004 saw an enthusiastic 72.5% turnout. In 2009 the turnout was a much smaller 59.4% and in 2014 it hit an all-time low for an election held in Cyprus with just 43.7% of voters bothering to cast their vote.
The fact that European elections have never been of particular interest to Cypriots, combined with a general air of mistrust towards institutions, leads analysts to expect an even poorer turnout in May.
“There is a general trend in the European Union of citizens being suspicious of the EU and its bodies, which in Cyprus was enhanced with the haircut back in 2013,” said Frederick University Sociology Professor Andreas Panayiotou.
He argued that the EU has fallen from grace in the eyes of European citizens in the south of the continent as “they perceive that there is an ongoing effort from the northern countries of the union, namely Germany to prevail economically on the rest of the union, by imposing their neoliberal agenda on the south of the union”.
“While the EU is heading for one of its most critical elections, as its outcome will to some extent shed some light on whether the union will be able to move forward with the idea of forming a federal state, or will it be faced with more defections such as Brexit, and the south is not content with how it is treated,” said Panayiotou.
“The idea of a united Europe is looking more like a wounded hallucination rather than a dream.”
He told the Financial Mirror, the air of mistrust created by EU’s direct involvement in the bailout haircut is only one of the reasons why Cypriots are not excited about voting in the European Parliament Elections.
“The prevailing atmosphere is being made worse with the clashes between local institutions.”
“We are currently witnessing the clash between the executive power with some of the society’s pillar institutions, such as the Attorney General and the Auditor General. There is a general discontent with the government and the institutions.”
Adding to this, is a series of scandals involving banks and the judicial system.
“Witnessing accounts of lawyers saying that banks had favourable treatment from high ranking officials of the judicial system who turned out to be related either through family ties or business ties to executives of the banks or their lawyers.”
Panayiotou explained there is a clear current of people who are disaffected with the government, the judicial system, the banking system and the European Union and its institutions.
“The question is how will this discontent be expressed at the upcoming elections? Will voters seek an alternative or will they abstain altogether? The second option is looking more likely than the first, as traditionally Euro Elections were never the field where Cypriots showed their discontent by voting for an alternative.”
The sociology professor said that this discontent may be fed by political forces who have more to gain from a low turnout. Political groups with a concrete core of supporters, who will definitely be voting have more to gain from a low turnout.
Asked on whether the Cyprus problem and the developments over the past few years could play a role on the turnout and the outcome of the elections, Panayiotou said that he does not expect it to influence the turnout or the outcome significantly as he does not expect the Cyprus problem to be on the agenda.
“If the Cyprus problem takes center stage, then I see AKEL having an advantage. AKEL has included a Turkish Cypriot candidate which is going down well with its supporters and is gaining sympathy from DISY supporters who are backing a federal solution for the Cyprus Problem,” said Panayiotou.
He added that a section of DISY supporters are not satisfied with President Nicos Anastasiades and their party’s moves to keep the nationalistic wing of the party in order to stop leaks towards the far right ELAM.
“However, the pro-solution wing of DISY do not appear ready to leave their party and give their votes to AKEL,” said Panayiotou.
