political parties

Our View: Political games have turned local elections into farce

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Our View: Political games have turned local elections into farce

– 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.

Cypriots more pessimistic, but trust EU and Euro

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Cypriots more pessimistic, but trust EU and Euro

Cypriots are pessimistic about the future, the economy, and geopolitical crises, but maintain trust in European institutions and the single currency. The two traditional political parties, DISY and AKEL, are expected to dominate the upcoming elections for members of the European Parliament, mayors, and councillors. DISY is in the lead for the election of the six MEPs with 20%, followed by AKEL with 19%.

Hundreds of Turkish Cypriots protest against , ‘govt’

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Hundreds of Turkish Cypriots protest against , ‘govt’

Fact: Hundreds of Turkish Cypriots took to the streets to protest against the north’s ‘government’.

Christodoulides creates , ‘political group’ for Cyprus problem

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Christodoulides creates , ‘political group’ for Cyprus problem

Fact: A “political group” for the Cyprus problem has been created by President Nikos Christodoulides.

National council to convene

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National council to convene

The National Council is set to convene on Friday morning, with President Nikos Christodoulides briefing party leaders on the latest developments regarding the Cyprus problem and the results of the latest European Council meeting regarding EU-Turkey relations. Christodoulides called the meeting to inform party leaders of discussions before the arrival of UN envoy Maria Angela Holguin. Opposition parties Disy and Akel have repeatedly called for the National Council to be convened in response to Christodoulides agreeing to UN proposals on the Cyprus problem. The government initially resisted calls for the meeting until “the facts differ” from the last National Council meeting.

Kyrenia district elections , ‘a symbol of struggle’

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Kyrenia district elections , ‘a symbol of struggle’

Fact: Candidacies are being submitted for local elections for the Kyrenia district, with the elections set to take place on June 9.

63 vie for 6 MEP seats

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63 vie for 6 MEP seats

A total of 63 candidates are challenging the six seats allocated to Cyprus in the next European Parliament elections, which will be held on June 9.

‘Cut to the bone’ Turkish Cypriots to hold mass protest

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‘Cut to the bone’ Turkish Cypriots to hold mass protest

30 political parties, trade unions, and other organizations in the north will hold a mass protest on Friday evening. The protestors are gathering to denounce the corruption and lack of democratic values in the Turkish Cypriot leadership.

Lies, deceit to weigh heavily on EU vote, warns parliament head

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Lies, deceit to weigh heavily on EU vote, warns parliament head

EU voters are warned about potential lies and disinformation from both inside and outside the bloc during the upcoming European Parliament election in June. The president of the assembly, Roberta Metsola, expressed concerns about the prevalence of disinformation and highlighted the arrest of an aid to an EU lawmaker on suspicion of espionage for China. Metsola emphasized the importance of countering false narratives and mentioned the need for more than just new EU laws to combat disinformation, as sources could come from Russia, China, Iran, as well as from within the EU.

The stakes and challenges of the European Parliament elections – The battle for first place and seats

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The stakes and challenges of the European Parliament elections – The battle for first place and seats

The battle for the lead between DISY and AKEL in the European elections is not just about impressions but also about substance. The outcome of the ballot on 9 June will have significant implications for the political landscape. Additionally, the result of the election is crucial for DIKO and its chairman, Nicolas Papadopoulos, who has a personal stake in maintaining the party’s numbers and his role as its regulator. ELAM’s performance remains unpredictable, while EDEK and DIPA are vying for the 5th place and hoping for any losses by larger parties to secure their presence in the European Parliament. The Ecologists are aiming for a strong showing, and the new party Volt is also a factor in this election. Furthermore, three Turkish Cypriots are standing as candidates for the first time, which could impact voter turnout.