The Central Election Commission is putting the final touches to preparations for Sunday’s presidential elections, contested by nine candidates, three of whom are running neck to neck according to opinion polls.
Results, according to the Commission, are expected out by 2030 on Sunday evening but points out that this could change, if any problems arise during the counting of votes. Voting is compulsory by law.
Electioneering ends at midnight Friday.
The main three candidates in the presidential race are incumbent President of the Republic Tassos Papadopoulos, seeking re-election, House President and General Secretary of AKEL Demetris Christofias and former foreign minister Ioannis Kasoulides.
All three of them are intensifying their campaign in the coming days with special events, including concerts, increased advertising, door to door visits, delivery of printed matterial, radio, TV and newspaper interview. All three of them believe that they will go through to the run off election. Recent opinion polls give a slight edge to Papadopoulos, but the outcome of the vote, with many voters still undecided or not replying to poll questions, still in the balance.
The second live televised debate with the participation of all three candidates is due to go on air on Thursday, with the Cyprus question being the only item of their agenda.
Speaking over the past few days on the issue, Papadopoulos said he wants a solution “with the right content which will be acceptable to Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots and which will reunite the country (divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion), the economy, its society and institutions and will safeguard human rights.â€
“Together we have achieved a lot and I call on you to help achieve even more. My vision is a Cyprus free of Turkish troops, where our children will live in safety and enjoy the freedom that will give them the chance to plan for their future,†Papadopoulos said.
He said his new contract with the people of Cyprus aims to increase the country’s contribution to the European Union, help claim what is due to us, improve the social state, create alliances and build cooperation that will help efforts to rid the Republic of the continuing Turkish occupation and end the current division.
“Today the UN agreement of July 2006, which is backed by the Security Council and the EU, is the only road to the resumption of substantive negotiations that will allow us to negotiate all the core issues of the Cyprus problem and find a mutually acceptable solution, in line with EU principles, human rights and fundamental freedoms,†he added.
Addressing an election rally, Demetris Christofias said “dithering with regard to the solution we want does not help; rejecting or questioning the bizonal bicommunal federation and federation in general, seeking a unitary state and references to a new basis for a solution can only create confusion and cast doubt on our will for a settlement, among the international community.â€
He said his vision of a solution calls for the withdrawal of the Turkish occupation army, the demilitarization of Cyprus and the reunification of the territory, the economy and the state institutions.
“We have credibility because over the years we have remained firm in the principles of the solution we are seeking and the basis of that solution,†he said, adding that AKEL enjoys the trust of the vast majority of the Turkish Cypriots, which he described as a “powerful weapon we shall use to find a common language with them.â€
“We are more than ready to do just that. Unity on the home front is a prerequisite for any initiatives towards a settlement; nobody can shoulder the huge responsibility of handling the Cyprus question alone and for that reason we shall give a new momentum to the National Council (top advisory body to the President),†Christofias said.
In his remarks on Sunday, Ioannis Kasoulides said “the people want to hear from us how we intend to achieve our objectives and not slogans of a general outlook.â€
He said he sees no need to enter into consultations with others ahead of the second round of elections, adding he is certain he will be one of the two candidates to go through.
“We have suffered setbacks because of the way Papadopoulos has handled the no vote in the April 2004 referendum on the UN proposed solution plan and not because the people of Cyprus rejected the plan,†he said, talking about the Annan plan which 76 per cent of Greek Cypriots rejected and 65 per cent of Turkish Cypriots approved in separate referenda.
Kasoulides said he is talking about a solution within the “red lines†of the Greek Cypriot side, and criticized Papadopoulos for delaying five years to display his will to negotiate a settlement.
The competent Minister, Minister of Interior Christos Patsalides said he has full confidence in the Election Commission and the Chief Returning Officer, adding that the primary aim is to secure that elections take place with law and order without any claims of vote rigging or other wrong behaviour which could tarnish the smooth running of the process.
Ballot papers have already been printed and are on their way to the various districts, beginning with Paphos district, on the west, followed by Limassol on the south, Famagusta on the east and Larnaca on the south east and with Nicosia district the last.
All personnel who will be working on election day has been assigned to the designated polling stations and everybody has been trained accordingly, to ensure that they are well acquainted with the law and the procedures they have to follow.
A total of 1,159 polling stations will operate, of which 438 in Nicosia District, 340 in Limassol District, 55 in the free areas of Famagusta District, 190 in Larnaca District and 134 in Paphos District.
Two special polling stations will operate for the enclaved – Greek Cypriots living in the northern Turkish occupied areas who are registered voters. They will be transported from the Turkish-occupied to the free areas to vote, and then either return to their homes or visit relatives.
The counting of votes will take place at each polling station except the two stations for the enclaved and the prisoners.
A total of 515,994 voters will cast their ballots, including 390 Turkish Cypriots.
This is the second largest number of presidential hopefuls since the Republic of Cyprus was established in 1960. In the 2003 presidential elections, ten people contested the elections.
Incumbent President Tassos Papadopoulos is seeking re-election, for a second term in office, and his main backer is the Democratic Party (DIKO), which he led for a number of years. Papadopoulos has also secured the support of the Social Democrats Movement EDEK, the European Party and the Ecologists.
House President, General Secretary of AKEL Demetris Christofias is running for the presidency, the first time AKEL has put forward its own candidate for the presidency. AKEL, a former coalition partner, announced its decision to contest the elections with Christofias in the summer, after EDEK had made public its support for Papadopoulos’ re-election bid.
Former Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides announced his decision to run in late spring 2007. He is backed by the Democratic Rally party.
Former Agriculture Minister Costas Themistocleous and Euro MP Marios Matsakis have also submitted their bit for presidential elections.
In addition to this, Andreas Efstratiou, Costas Kyriakou (Outopos), Anastasis Michael and Christodoulos Neofytou are also contesting these elections.
Elections will cost around 5.83 million euro, for two rounds, as all indications are that there will be a run off election on Sunday February 24. A total of ten thousand people will work during all phases of the elections.
If any candidate secures 50% plus one, he will be declared President from the first round. If no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote, then a second round will be held on February 24 between the two candidates who will secure the highest percentage of the vote.
Polling stations will open at 0700 local time (0500 GMT) and will stay open until 1700 (1500 GMT) with an hour’s break at midday.
Results will be channeled through the following websites, www.proedrikes.gov.cy, www.ekloges.gov.cy and www.elections.gov.cy
