The big bet that they are called to win and at the same time the big challenge that all five candidates have to face for the mayoralty of the occupied city of Famagusta, is called abstention. The messages from the previous electoral contests are not at all encouraging in relation to the turnout in the polls. The fact that the election is scheduled for August 25, a holiday period in which a large percentage of voters are likely to be abroad or vacationing in a domestic tourist resort, makes things even more difficult. This was one of the reasons why the possibility of avoiding ballot boxing with a common consensus candidate was initially welcomed. The effort, however, collapsed early.
All this at a time when the issue of Famagusta is constantly in the political news, being part of Ankara's political game in the Cyprus issue and the participation of Famagustans in the polls is considered important to send its own message in the fight for return. Whether this will be possible, that is, whether there will be a final participation, is something that will be answered on the last Sunday of August. However, it is obvious that all five candidates will bet on the sensitivity of the people of Famagusta, in order to persuade them to go to the polls. Simos Ioannou, Nikos Karoullas, Andreas Lordos, Linos Papagiannis and Georgios Stavris, from last Friday, after the end of the period for submitting objections, officially entered the battle for the succession of Alexis Galanos, addressing the 31.589 voters of Dimos according to the data published by the Prefect of Famagusta during the submission of the candidacies last Thursday.
Most of the voters are in the province of Limassol, as most of the people from Varosi ended up there after the invasion, being persecuted by the Turkish invaders, and the municipality's offices and offices operate there. According to the data, the voters of Famagusta amount to a total of around 12.500, while in number the people of Famagusta follow in the province of Larnaca, which amounts to around 10 thousand. In Nicosia the voters of Famagusta are 4.500, in the free province of Famagusta 3.500, while in the province of Paphos there are 1.200 voters.
Yesterday, the polling stations and the distribution of voters who will vote for the election of the mayor of Famagusta were also announced. Specifically, in an announcement of the Supervisor of Alternative Elections, the Supervisor of Famagusta Georgios Chrysafinis, it is mentioned that the elections will be held from 7 in the morning until 6 in the afternoon with an hour interruption from 12 to one at noon.
A total of 44 polling stations will be open for the elections, ie 4 in the free province of Famagusta, 7 in Nicosia, 13 in Larnaca, 19 in Limassol and 1 in Paphos.
In the last municipal elections held in December 2016, turnout was very low, setting a negative record. In an election contest that was of great interest and as it turned out, the battle was judged for only 26 votes and until the last minute everything was open.
According to the official data of the Electoral Service, out of a total of 31.439 registered voters, 12.560 voted, ie only 39,84% of the voters, while 18.870 voters preferred to abstain from the electoral process. According to the result, Alexis Galanos was re-elected for the third consecutive time as mayor of Famagusta, receiving 4.941 votes or 41,73%. Simos Ioannou, who is still a candidate for mayor, received 4,918 votes or 41,54%. Candidates were also then as now Andreas Lord who received 1.623 votes or 13,71% and George Stavri who received 357 votes or 3,02%.
In the 2011 elections, Alexis Galanos was re-elected to the mayoralty of the occupied city without a candidate. As a result, no ballots were set for the mayor's office. His announcement was made after the completion of the process of submitting candidacies, to the District Administration of Famagusta. Alexis Galanos then had the support of all parties. In other words, what was not achieved today was achieved in 2011 when all the parties decided to support Alexis Galanos. As Simos Ioannou, who was then the head of the municipal team of AKEL Famagusta, told "Phileleftheros", there was an excellent cooperation of all the party groups with Alexis Galanos on issues of the municipality, and he himself had then proposed his support from part of AKEL of his candidacy. Which, in the end, Alexis Galanos, with the support of DISY, AKEL, DIKO, EDEK, the then EUROCO, the Ecologists and the Center for the Reconstruction, did not leave room for questioning by anyone, so he was re-elected for a solemn ceremony. .
In 2006 it was the beginning of the mayoralty of Alexis Galanos in the occupied municipality of the city of Evagoras. Having the support of DISY, he managed to get a percentage of 55,78% and to be elected mayor, against Giannakis Skordis, who was re-publishing with the support of the parties of the tripartite AKEL, DIKO, EDEK.
EDEK - AKEL confrontation for S. Ioannou
EDEK's decision last Friday not to support any of the candidates for the mayoralty of Famagusta, provoked the reaction of AKEL. Specifically, EDEK complains that AKEL through Haravgi is dealing with EDEK's decision not to support any of the candidates for the mayoralty of Famagusta "in a way that raises the question: When and to whom did AKEL name Simos Ioannou? as a common candidate for the mayoralty of Famagusta, on the contrary, they put another name on the table, the interest of which was withdrawn after the elections ", notes EDEK.
It is recalled that AKEL and DIKO decided to support the candidacy of Mr. Simos Ioannou, while DISY made a decision following a suggestion of the party's provincial committee, in support of Nikos Karoulla. ELAM is coming down with party MP Lino Papagiannis, while Andreas Lordos and Georgios Stavris are coming down as independents.
The attempt to find a common candidate was preceded by an initiative announced by DISY and the positive response of the other parties. However, the consultations that followed between the parties did not bring any results and therefore at the end of the day everyone went their own way with their own candidate.
Source: Liberal