The presidential election in Cyprus has reached a turning point, with Nikos Christodoulides, a former foreign minister, emerging as the likely winner in a tight run-off vote against career diplomat Andreas Mavroyiannis. According to the exit poll conducted by state broadcaster CyBC, Christodoulides garnered 50.5 percent to 53.5 percent of the votes, while Mavroyiannis received 46.5 percent to 49.5 percent. The outcome of the election is crucial, as it will determine the next leader of the island nation, which has been divided along ethnic lines since a Turkish invasion in 1974.
Christodoulides, who campaigned as a unifying force, avoided getting entangled in ideological and party divisions, a strategy that seems to have paid off. He managed to sway enough voters from the largest Democratic Rally (DISY) party, whose leader Averof Neophytou failed to make it into the run-off. This outcome is significant, as many DISY party insiders had accused Christodoulides of splitting the party vote by running against Neophytou.
Mavroyiannis, on the other hand, positioned himself as the agent of change, promising to usher in a new political era after a decade of rule by outgoing President Nicos Anastasiades. He has the backing of the communist-rooted AKEL party and was able to capitalize on feelings of discontent among voters who feel that the current government has failed to deliver on promises. However, many Cypriots are wary of an AKEL-backed government, fearing that it would compromise the country’s Western orientation and its close ties with the US.
Nikos Christodoulides (Via Nikos Christodoulides/Twitter)
The next president will face the daunting task of reviving stalemated peace talks with breakaway Turkish Cypriots. Both Christodoulides and Mavroyiannis were key insiders during the last failed peace drive at a Swiss resort in 2017, and both have pointed to Turkey’s insistence on maintaining a permanent troop presence and military intervention rights in a reunified Cyprus as a major obstacle to a deal. Christodoulides has drawn a clear line in the sand, refusing to compromise on these issues, while Mavroyiannis has taken a softer stance in an effort to woo leftist voters who believe that more could have been done to reach a deal.
In his remarks after casting his ballot, Christodoulides emphasized the importance of unity in responding to the challenges facing Cyprus. “The key objective is for us to successfully respond to the Cypriot people’s expectations, irrespective of party allegiances, ideological beliefs, whether they are unaligned or new voters,” he said. Mavroyiannis, meanwhile, expressed confidence in his chances of winning, claiming that “we’ll be the winners and so will Cyprus.”
The outcome of the election will have significant implications for the future of Cyprus, and it remains to be seen whether Christodoulides or Mavroyiannis will be able to navigate the complex web of political and economic interests that shape the country’s fate.
