Cypriot Candidates submit bids for European Parliament elections

Candidacies for the European Parliament elections are being submitted here today, officially signaling the start of the election campaign.

Candidacies can be submitted from 0900 (0600 GMT) hours to 1230 local time either directly by the candidate him/her self or by his/her supporters.

The official results of the European Parliament elections, to be held in Cyprus on 6 June, will be announced on Sunday, June 7, after the end of the voting in all EU member-states.

A total of 525.000 persons are on the electoral list in Cyprus, 10.000 of whom are overseas, 1.300 are Turkish Cypriot voters and 5.000 nationals of other EU countries and 7.400 are new voters.

A total of 33 polling stations will be set up abroad in 25 towns in different countries for the June elections, in which Cypriots will be called to choose six deputies to represent their country.

From the 33 polling stations, 20 will be in Greece, 5 in the United Kingdom and the rest in various other countries.

Polling stations will be set up in Athens (five), Thessaloniki (three), Patra, Komotini, Larissa, Volos, Heraklion, Rethymno, Serres, Rhodes, Mytilene, Ioannina, Kalamata, Kozani, London (three), Manchester, Birmingham, Berlin, Brussels, Moscow, Prague, Budapest, Sofia, Doha and Dubai.

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.

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 solve the question of Cyprus.