The Cypriots are called to the polls, Sunday February 5, for the first round of the presidential election, at the end of a campaign without relief, the three candidates running being all former collaborators of the outgoing conservative president, Nicos Anastasiades, 76 years, who retires after ten years at the head of the divided island. The contenders for the top job have tried to break out of its orbit and stand out from each other, if only to dispel the popular saying that they are all “the sons of Anastasiades”.
Averof Neophytou, 61, who has led the Democratic Rally since 2013 (DISY, conservative right), presents himself as a “safe choice”. He has his experience and his political skill on his side. It was under his leadership that the DISY, which did not have a majority in Parliament, was able to pass the reforms required by the “troika” (International Monetary Fund, European Commission and European Central Bank) to curb the financial crisis of 2012 and 2013. “Those who claim to bring about change will only succeed in creating chaos”the stern-faced politician said at his last rally on Thursday. “The time is neither for experimentation nor for error”he hammered, valuing the newfound stability.
Conversely, Andreas Mavroyiannis, 66, plays the card of political renewal. Former chief negotiator for Mr Anastasiades in the talks with the Turkish Cypriots for the reunification of the island, he is supported by the Progressive Workers’ Party (AKEL, of communist allegiance). University, passed in particular by Paris, where he was a research assistant at Panthéon-Assas, this seasoned diplomat tries to attract to him the disappointed ones of the outgoing administration, suspected of corruption. Is in particular in question a controversial program of attribution, against investments on the spot, of passports of the European Union, of which Cyprus is member since 2004, with dubious businessmen, in particular Russian.
A divided state
The granting of these “golden passports” has ceased, but its discovery has tarnished the reputation of the outgoing government. “In this election, there are three favorites and two choices: the continuation of this governance or a progressive change”Mr. Mavroyiannis reminded his supporters, before the end of the campaign on Friday.
Described as the favorite in the ballot, Nikos Christodoulides, 49, is running as an independent, although he too is a member of DISY, the party of Mr Anastasiades. Formerly spokesperson for the government and then Minister for Foreign Affairs, he aims to seduce all Cypriots, regardless of their political convictions. “I have the experience, the knowledge, the connections, and I want to see my country free and reunited”, he declared during his last campaign rally. Yet his intransigence vis-à-vis the Turkish Cypriots leaves little hope for a quick political settlement.
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