Final poll results showed that the ruling coalition in Cyprus
won the parliamentary elections yesterday, which is widely seen as
a support for President Tassos Papadopoulos with his hardline
stance on the Cyprus issue.
The Working People's Progressive Party (AKEL), coalition partner
with Papadopoulos' party, garnered 31.16 percent of the vote and
maintained its first place in the 56-seat House of Representatives,
according to the final election results announced by the Interior
Ministry.
The AKEL narrowly beat the main opposition Democratic Rally
Party (DISY), which garnered 30.33 percent.
Papadopoulos' centrist Democratic Party (DIKO) came the third,
with 17.91 percent of the vote, an impressive increase from the
14.8 percent it scored in 2001.
The Socialist Party (EDEK) had 8.91 percent while the European
Party won 5.73 percent.
Though the election results are not expected to change the
political landscape on the island, the victory is widely seen as a
bolster to Papadopoulos who has adopted a hardline stance on the
Cyprus issue.
Greek Cypriots headed to polling stations yesterday to elect
anew 56-member parliament for a five-year term.
A total of 487 candidates from 10 political parties or movements
participated in the elections.
(Xinhua News Agency May 22, 2006)
