Voters in Cyprus will be choosing from 63 candidates in the European Parliament elections, with 45 men and 18 women running. Six of these candidates will represent Cyprus in the European Parliament.
President Christodoulides expressed shame over the need for presidential intervention to replace a bed and two toilets at the Troodos Regional Hospital. This highlights the inefficiencies and lack of action in addressing basic needs at the hospital, raising concerns about the state of healthcare in the country.
The parties in Cyprus are gearing up for the upcoming double election in June, with big parties trying to unite and small parties aiming to weaken them. The focus is on securing seats in the European Parliament, with major parties concentrating on rallying supporters. The newly formed VOLT party is presented as a progressive alternative to AKEL, while ELAM is focused on increasing its numbers to have a regulatory role in politics. The Ecologists have a solid base for a long continuous presence in parliament.
Efi Xanthou resigned from the Ecologists – Citizens’ Cooperation Movement due to a highly undemocratic process at a provincial assembly in Nicosia. Candidates were excluded from voting, a non-official candidate was proposed for mayoral support, and another endorsed candidate was absent from the ballot. Xanthou had been considering leaving since November 2022, but the events at the assembly made her decision to resign inevitable.
A Resolution plan for the adoption of Resolution A/RES/76/300 of the United Nations General Assembly regarding the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is being led by MP Alexandra Attalides in the upcoming Plenary Session of the Parliament. The resolution proposal was read out by Irene Charalambidou, the President of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights. The resolution includes a provision that the Republic of Cyprus must promptly prepare management plans for Natura 2000 areas and take immediate actions to address violations. Charalampos Theopemptou mentioned that there are 600-800 premature deaths in Cyprus annually due to poor air quality. Alexandra Attalides highlighted that the right to a healthy environment is a fundamental human right that is not yet enshrined in international conventions or the Constitution of Cyprus, despite aspects of it being recognized by EU laws. The European Court of Human Rights recently ruled on a case against Switzerland for failing to address climate change and its impact on human rights.
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.