For the first time in a presidential election, a candidate who was not supported by one of the two major parties won the ticket for the second round
By Antonis Anzoletou
The Democratic Alarm left out of the second round in the presidential elections and there is no similar precedent.
Delving even deeper into the message of the Cypriot ballot box, for the first time in a presidential election, a candidate who was not supported by one of the two major parties got the ticket for the second round.
The 29.6% secured by the AKEL candidate Andreas Mavroyiannis compared to the 32% of Nikos Christodoulidis leaves many open accounts for February 12th. It is certain that the former foreign minister has more reserves.
Nikos Anastasiadis assumed the role of “bridge builder” from Sunday evening.
It was not the percentage that troubled DISY. He got 27.7% in the 2021 parliamentary elections. It lost, i.e. 2.4 points. It is clear that Andreas Neophytou, as the president of the ruling party, had on his “back” the wear and tear of the ten years of rule given to him by Nikos Anastasiadis the “keys” of the party in 2013. And of course he “paid” cases such as the “golden passports” that occupied public opinion a lot. The fact that DISY with Nikos Christodoulidis opposite him was as if he went to the polls with two candidates. 1/3 was drafted with the former foreign minister and the “damage” was done.
Where “lost” the game for Andreas Neophytou according to experienced analysts? In Nicosia, the largest province of the island, the mobilization of the “Alarmists” did not reach satisfactory levels. Nikos Christodoulidis gathered 30.3%, Andreas Mavroyiannis came close to him reaching 29.7% and the president of DISY was limited to 25.3%. In Larnaca, the diplomat who ran the negotiations for the Cyprus issue maintained AKEL’s tradition of having good percentages reaching 35.1% and of course in Paphos, the birthplace of Nikos Christodoulidis, his victory was clear with 50.2%. After all, this particular area is a strong core of DIKO and EDEK that support him.
Andreas Mavroyiannis seems that in addition to the repatriation of some AKEL voters, he managed to win a percentage of the “lost vote” that the research companies could not detect. This probably gave him about 2-3% which ultimately made the difference.
Polls in the current week they are not allowed, however statements from the team leaders will largely indicate where the result will move five days from today. DISY and AKEL cooperation is not an easy undertaking. It happened again in 1985 when the two forces collaborated against Spyros Kyprianou. It is possible that the “adhesive substance” is the Cypriot one. It is not easy to overcome in Pindarou that their defeat came from Nikos Christodoulidis. At the same time, it is even more difficult for them to turn to AKEL at the moment when, during the pre-election period, they were talking about the “puppet of the Left” who can take over the reins of the country. There are all the opinions within the party that make the final decision even more critical. Previous polls had shown that 6/10 of the DISY voters feel Nikos Christodoulidis is closer to them. 2/10 Andreas Mavrogianis and 2/10 may choose to abstain. From the National People’s Front (ELAM) with Christou Christou finishing fourth with 6.04%, 50% is said to be going towards Mr. Christodoulidis.
There is a lot of excitement with Nikos Christodoulidis visiting Averof Neophytou yesterday in view of the final decision to be taken by the party. The meeting between Averof Neophytos and Andreas Mavroyiannis lasted half an hour. The first information indicates that the possibility of supporting the AKEL candidate is moving away despite a specific trend that has formed within the party.
The vote at will with the asterisk that the candidacy of Mavroyiannis will not reach the victory in the second round was put on the table, as well as the support of Nikos Christodoulidis.
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
