Cypriot presidential election, 2008
Encyclopedia
A presidential election was held in Cyprus
on 17 February 2008, with the second round held on 24 February 2008. The second-round winner, and thus the President of Cyprus for the next term, is Dimitris Christofias
.
The first round, held on February 17, saw a close result between three leading candidates, Dimitris Christofias
of AKEL, Ioannis Kasoulidis of DISY, and the incumbent Tassos Papadopoulos
. Results showed Kasoulidis in first place with about 33.51%, Christofias in second with 33.29%, and Papadopoulos in third with 31.79%. Christophias and Kasoulidis therefore participated in a second round on February 24. The elimination of Papadopoulos in the first round was viewed as surprising.
In the second round, Christofias won with 53.37% against 46.63% for Kasoulides. He was sworn in as President on February 28.
According to the exit-polls, Papadopoulos was voted by 40% of "No" voters in the Annan referendum and 5% of the "Yes". Christofias by 35% of the "No" and 34% of the "Yes" voters and Kasoulidis by the 24% of the "No" and 62% of the "Yes" voters.
) announced in late July that he would run for re-election. In early July 2007, the ruling coalition (consisting of DIKO, AKEL
and EDEK
) fell apart due to a lack of consensus on a common candidate for the presidential elections; AKEL general secretary Dimitris Christofias was proposed as a common candidate by AKEL, but rejected by DIKO and EDEK (who both will support Papadopoulos' bid for reelection), which AKEL took as a reason to leave the ruling coalition. Thus both Papadopoulos and Christophias contested the election.
Furthermore, the Democratic Rally
support MEP
Ioannis Kasoulidis, a former foreign minister, and Kostas Themistokleous, a former minister of agriculture and environment, also contested the election.
Controversial MEP Marios Matsakis
announced on 29 December 2007 that he would contest the election. Marios Matsakis was elected two times as a member of the Cypriot parliament and once as member of the Εuropean Parliament with the support of DIKO.
The Secretariat of the Movement of the United Democrats
initially considered to support Themistokleous but at the end they supported Christophias to minimize the possibility of Papadopoulos' re-election..
The Ecological and Environmental Movement
(KOP) decided on November 18, 2007 to support Papadopoulos. The movement supported him in 2003 as well.
leader Archbishop Chrysostomos II backed Kasoulidis.
Ecological and Environmental Movement
on 21 February 2008 decided to support Dimitris Christofias.
Evroko, ADIK
and Marios Matsakis announced that they will support neither of the two candidates.
Kostas Themistokleous backed Ioannis Kasoulidis.
The names of the candidates announced on 18 January 2008 were:
, MEGA, ANT1
, Sigma TV
and CNC Plus TV
. The debate started at 9.45PM local time and lasted 1 hour and 50 minutes. Each candidate had three minutes to answer each question and 1.5 minute for every follow-up question. The procedure was divided in 6 sections and, at the end of each section, each candidate had 3 minutes to give a short speech and 1.5 minute for a short comment.
On 14 February, a second debate was held. The subject of discussion was the Cyprus dispute
.
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
on 17 February 2008, with the second round held on 24 February 2008. The second-round winner, and thus the President of Cyprus for the next term, is Dimitris Christofias
Dimitris Christofias
Dimitris Christofias also Demetris is a left-wing Greek Cypriot politician and the current and sixth President of the Republic of Cyprus. Christofias was the General Secretary of AKEL and is Cyprus's first, and the European Union's first and so far only, communist head of state. He won the 2008...
.
The first round, held on February 17, saw a close result between three leading candidates, Dimitris Christofias
Dimitris Christofias
Dimitris Christofias also Demetris is a left-wing Greek Cypriot politician and the current and sixth President of the Republic of Cyprus. Christofias was the General Secretary of AKEL and is Cyprus's first, and the European Union's first and so far only, communist head of state. He won the 2008...
of AKEL, Ioannis Kasoulidis of DISY, and the incumbent Tassos Papadopoulos
Tassos Papadopoulos
Tassos Nikolaou Papadopoulos was a Cypriot politician. He served as the fifth President of the Republic of Cyprus from February 28, 2003 to February 28, 2008.His parents were Nicolas and Aggeliki from Assia. He was the first of three children...
. Results showed Kasoulidis in first place with about 33.51%, Christofias in second with 33.29%, and Papadopoulos in third with 31.79%. Christophias and Kasoulidis therefore participated in a second round on February 24. The elimination of Papadopoulos in the first round was viewed as surprising.
In the second round, Christofias won with 53.37% against 46.63% for Kasoulides. He was sworn in as President on February 28.
According to the exit-polls, Papadopoulos was voted by 40% of "No" voters in the Annan referendum and 5% of the "Yes". Christofias by 35% of the "No" and 34% of the "Yes" voters and Kasoulidis by the 24% of the "No" and 62% of the "Yes" voters.
Announcement of candidates and first round supports
Papadopoulos (DIKODemocratic Party (Cyprus)
The Democratic Party is a centrist political party in Cyprus, founded in 1976 by Spyros Kyprianou. As it is reported in its founding statement , the Democratic Party proposes to the Cypriot society the political philosophy of "social centrism", which constitutes “a total of attributes and values...
) announced in late July that he would run for re-election. In early July 2007, the ruling coalition (consisting of DIKO, AKEL
Progressive Party of Working People
The Progressive Party of Working People is a communist party in Cyprus. It supports an independent, demilitarized and non-aligned Cyprus, and a federal solution of the internal aspect of the Cyprus problem. It places particular emphasis on rapprochement with the Turkish Cypriots. It supported...
and EDEK
Movement for Social Democracy
The Movement for Social Democracy EDEK is a Social Democratic party in Cyprus. It was originally founded by Dr Vasos Lyssaridis in 1969 as the United Democratic Union of Centre, EDEK and it was socialist party. It has gradually evolved into a social-democratic political party...
) fell apart due to a lack of consensus on a common candidate for the presidential elections; AKEL general secretary Dimitris Christofias was proposed as a common candidate by AKEL, but rejected by DIKO and EDEK (who both will support Papadopoulos' bid for reelection), which AKEL took as a reason to leave the ruling coalition. Thus both Papadopoulos and Christophias contested the election.
Furthermore, the Democratic Rally
Democratic Rally
The Democratic Rally , is a centre-right political party in Cyprus, led by Nicos Anastasiades.The party was founded on 4 July 1976 by veteran politician Glafkos Klerides. Clerides served as Cyprus president from 1993 until 2003....
support MEP
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
Ioannis Kasoulidis, a former foreign minister, and Kostas Themistokleous, a former minister of agriculture and environment, also contested the election.
Controversial MEP Marios Matsakis
Marios Matsakis
Marios Matsakis is a Cypriot politician and former Member of the European Parliament for the Democratic Party, and sat with the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe group. Although a medical doctor by profession, he became involved in politics in the mid-1990s and has sparked controversy...
announced on 29 December 2007 that he would contest the election. Marios Matsakis was elected two times as a member of the Cypriot parliament and once as member of the Εuropean Parliament with the support of DIKO.
The Secretariat of the Movement of the United Democrats
United Democrats
The United Democrats is a liberal political party in Cyprus. The party was founded by former President of Cyprus George Vasiliou in 1993 as "Kinima Eleftheron Dimokraton"...
initially considered to support Themistokleous but at the end they supported Christophias to minimize the possibility of Papadopoulos' re-election..
The Ecological and Environmental Movement
Ecological and Environmental Movement
The Ecological and Environmental Movement , also rendered as Cyprus Green Party, is a green political party in Cyprus.At the legislative elections, 27 May 2001, the party won 2.0% of the popular vote and 1 out of 56 seats. In the elections of 21 May 2006, the party won 2.0% and 1 out of 56...
(KOP) decided on November 18, 2007 to support Papadopoulos. The movement supported him in 2003 as well.
Second round supports
After the first round of the election and the elimination of Papadopoulos, the latter's party, DIKO, announced its support for Christofias although Papadopoulos himself stayed neutral. Christofias had offered three ministerial positions to DIKO, including that of Minister of Foreign Affairs, in addition to the post of President of the House of Representatives, while Kasoulides had offered five ministerial positions in exchange for DIKO's support. EDEK also backed Christofias, on the proposal of its Political Bureau, with 109 members of its Central Committee voting in favor of supporting Christofias, five voting against, and two abstaining. The Cypriot Orthodox ChurchCypriot Orthodox Church
The Church of Cyprus is an autocephalous Greek church within the communion of Orthodox Christianity. It is one of the oldest Eastern Orthodox autocephalous churches, achieving independence from the Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East in 431...
leader Archbishop Chrysostomos II backed Kasoulidis.
Ecological and Environmental Movement
Ecological and Environmental Movement
The Ecological and Environmental Movement , also rendered as Cyprus Green Party, is a green political party in Cyprus.At the legislative elections, 27 May 2001, the party won 2.0% of the popular vote and 1 out of 56 seats. In the elections of 21 May 2006, the party won 2.0% and 1 out of 56...
on 21 February 2008 decided to support Dimitris Christofias.
Evroko, ADIK
Adik
Adik may refer to;*Govindrao Adik Indian politician*Ramrao Adik Indian politician...
and Marios Matsakis announced that they will support neither of the two candidates.
Kostas Themistokleous backed Ioannis Kasoulidis.
Candidates
Nine candidates were approved to participate in the elections. Each candidate had to be recommended by one Cypriot citizen and supported by eight more.The names of the candidates announced on 18 January 2008 were:
- Tassos PapadopoulosTassos PapadopoulosTassos Nikolaou Papadopoulos was a Cypriot politician. He served as the fifth President of the Republic of Cyprus from February 28, 2003 to February 28, 2008.His parents were Nicolas and Aggeliki from Assia. He was the first of three children...
, supported by DIKO, EDEK, EvrokoEuropean Party (Cyprus)The European Party is a centrist political party in Cyprus founded in 2005, largely out of the parties New Horizons and European Democracy....
, ADIKFighting Democratic MovementThe Fighting Democratic Movement is a political party in Cyprus.At the 2001 legislative elections, 27 May 2001, the party won 2.2 % of the popular vote and 1 out of 56 seats. In 2006 it lost parliamentary representation. In 2011, ADIK decided to become part of the centre party DIKO.- External...
, KOP - Dimitris ChristofiasDimitris ChristofiasDimitris Christofias also Demetris is a left-wing Greek Cypriot politician and the current and sixth President of the Republic of Cyprus. Christofias was the General Secretary of AKEL and is Cyprus's first, and the European Union's first and so far only, communist head of state. He won the 2008...
, supported by AKELProgressive Party of Working PeopleThe Progressive Party of Working People is a communist party in Cyprus. It supports an independent, demilitarized and non-aligned Cyprus, and a federal solution of the internal aspect of the Cyprus problem. It places particular emphasis on rapprochement with the Turkish Cypriots. It supported...
, United DemocratsUnited DemocratsThe United Democrats is a liberal political party in Cyprus. The party was founded by former President of Cyprus George Vasiliou in 1993 as "Kinima Eleftheron Dimokraton"... - Ioannis Kasoulidis, supported by DISYDemocratic RallyThe Democratic Rally , is a centre-right political party in Cyprus, led by Nicos Anastasiades.The party was founded on 4 July 1976 by veteran politician Glafkos Klerides. Clerides served as Cyprus president from 1993 until 2003....
, Kinima Eleftheron Politon, Evropaiki Dimokratia, Laiko Sosialistiko Kinima - Kostas Themistokleous
- Marios MatsakisMarios MatsakisMarios Matsakis is a Cypriot politician and former Member of the European Parliament for the Democratic Party, and sat with the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe group. Although a medical doctor by profession, he became involved in politics in the mid-1990s and has sparked controversy...
- Andreas EfstratiouAndreas EfstratiouAndreas Efstratiou is a business man from Paphos. He was candidate also for the presidential elections of 2003 in Cyprus and received 606 votes . He was also a candidate for the 2008 presidential election and received 713 votes .-References:...
- Anastasis Michael
- Christodoulos NeophytouChristodoulos NeophytouChristodoulos Neophytou is a Cypriot economist who was born in Famagusta and now lives in Larnaca. He is married with Christa Neophytou and has two adult sons.He studied Applied Economics in London....
- Kostas KyriacouKostas KyriacouKostas Kyriacou also known as "Outopos", is a farmer from Paphos, Cyprus, who studied Philosophy in Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He is divorced with 3 children...
(Outopos)
Debates
On 26 January 2008 the three main candidates, Papadopoulos, Christofias, and Kasoulidis, debated on television. The debate was transmitted by all Cypriot TV stations. The three candidates were questioned by journalists from RIKCyprus Broadcasting Corporation
The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation ) or CyBC is Cyprus's public broadcasting service, transmitting island-wide on four radio and two television channels. CyBC is a non-profit organization that utilises its entire income for the promotion of its main mission, which is the objective provision of...
, MEGA, ANT1
ANT1 Cyprus
ANT1 Cyprus is a free to air terrestrial TV channel established in 1993. The channel is partly owned by ANT1 Greece. It is a general entertainment channel screening international, Greek and some locally produced programs. It transmits on channels 48, 35, 60, 41, 63, 65, 23, 26, 67, 24, 56, 37,...
, Sigma TV
Sigma TV
Sigma TV is a commercial network in Cyprus that commenced broadcasting on April 3, 1995. It is a private service and is currently the second-rated channel in Cyprus. Sigma TV is geared at a younger audience, with the focus on the 18-45 age group. It broadcasts a mix of original programmes as...
and CNC Plus TV
CNC Plus TV
CNC Plus TV is the island’s sixth free-to-air television channel launched on July 28, 2006. It broadcasts on channel 45 but is also available on other platforms such as CytaVision, PrimeTel. Due to a cooperation deal with Greek channel Star Channel, CNC Plus TV line-up also includes several...
. The debate started at 9.45PM local time and lasted 1 hour and 50 minutes. Each candidate had three minutes to answer each question and 1.5 minute for every follow-up question. The procedure was divided in 6 sections and, at the end of each section, each candidate had 3 minutes to give a short speech and 1.5 minute for a short comment.
On 14 February, a second debate was held. The subject of discussion was the Cyprus dispute
Cyprus dispute
The Cyprus dispute is the result of the ongoing conflict between the Republic of Cyprus and Turkey, over the Turkish occupied northern part of Cyprus....
.
Opinion polls
A collection of opinion polls taken before the elections is listed below. Beginning on 11 February 2008, no opinion poll is allowed to be published.| Polling Firm | Source | Date Published | T. Papadopoulos | D. Christofias | I. Kasoulidis | K. Themistokleous | M. Matsakis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Symmetron | http://www.in.gr/news/article.asp?lngEntityID=837009&lngDtrID=244 | 3 October 07 | 32.9 | 27.5 | 27.6 | 0.4 | |
| RAI Consultants | http://www.phileleftheros.com/main/main.asp?gid=334&id=520132 | 18 November 07 | 33.0 | 28.5 | 27.8 | 0.4 | |
| Public Isuue PIK | http://www.electionwatch.eu/60/13thsurveycyprus/ | 21 November 07 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 1 | |
| Noverna | http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/29187/greek_cyprus_presidential_race_wide_open | 22 November 07 | 30.1 | 28.4 | 27.1 | 1.2 | |
| RAI Consultants | http://www.phileleftheros.com.cy/main/showarticle_prt.asp?id=527244 | 25 December 07 | 32.7 | 28.7 | 26.2 | 1.2 | |
| Noverna | 17 January 08 | 30.3 | 29.1 | 30.5 | 0.1 | 2.2 | |
| Noverna | 23 January 08 | 30.5 | 30.0 | 30.1 | 0.3 | 2.2 | |
| Public Issue-RIK | 7 February 08 | 34.0 | 33.5 | 30.5 | 0.1 | 2.0 | |