Three of the six outgoing Cyprus MEPs seem set for re-election, with incumbents Loucas Fourlas, Giorgos Georgiou, and Costas Mavrides expected to retain their seats. The far-right party ELAM could win its first European seat.
There are more than 7,000 candidates running in the upcoming EU and local government elections in Cyprus. Voters will have to choose among 12 political party combinations and independent candidates. The ballot papers are printed in different colors to help voters differentiate between the various elections. Two communities did not have candidates, and others did not meet the required number of candidates for community council members, so a new date will be set for those elections.
Fact: 55 per cent of voters are expected not to vote in the upcoming elections.
The upcoming elections will halt various developments, including those related to labour issues. Despite important pending matters such as collective agreements renewal and measures against undeclared labour, decisions will be delayed until after the elections. However, a preview of upcoming developments will be presented at the ILO Assembly in Geneva, attended by trade union heads, employer organizations, and the Minister of Labour.
The Election Service and political parties are working to prepare for the upcoming elections on June 9. The Election Service has launched the “Where I Vote” platform to help voters find their polling station and ballot papers. Parties are concerned about voter turnout and are addressing people’s questions. Voters will receive up to six different colored ballots for various positions, and must present proper identification to vote. Voters must not mix candidates from different combinations on the ballot.
– Cyprus voters will be handed six ballot papers to choose mayors, deputy mayors, municipal councillors, village leaders, council members, district council presidents, and members of the European Parliament.
– The number of mayors has been reduced and the number of deputy mayors has been tripled due to a municipal reform.
– Some new municipalities will have a greater population, while others will be the biggest in area.
– Some municipalities and village councils refused to merge due to personal egos.
– There is frustration among voters about the new roles created and candidates not knowing their duties.
– Local issues are not being discussed, and there is a lack of female participation in MEP and mayoral candidates.
– The turnout on election day could be smaller than ever due to growing apathy.
A new service was introduced for voters in the upcoming Europarliament and local administration elections to check where they will go to vote on June 9.
English voters headed to polling stations on Thursday to pick mayors, councillors, and a new lawmaker in the last electoral test for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak before a national vote later this year.
A total of 7,280 candidates are contesting 3,227 public offices in the upcoming June elections in Cyprus.
– Candidacies were submitted for the most complex elections ever held in Cyprus, where people would be voting for Members of European Parliament and an unprecedented number of local government officials.
– There are 63 candidates for the six seats in the European Parliament and 3,232 candidates for the local authority elections, including school boards.
– The vote for local government includes voting for municipal councillors, a deputy mayor, a mayor, and a district governor.
– The introduction of an elected district governor was not in the government reform plans but was added by a party without clear justification.
– The reform of local government was recommended in 2013 due to the costly, inefficient, and poor service provided by the existing system.
– The creation of new municipalities was influenced by political parties’ interests in creating positions for their members rather than streamlining services.
– The reform turned into a farce due to horse-trading by parties, resulting in a costly system that may not address the waste of public money.
– The authorities of the district governor and mayors remain to be seen how they will be exercised.