Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 98-02-10

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From: The Cyprus Mail at <http://www.cynews.com/>

Tuesday, February 10, 1998

Front-runners `court' smaller parties

THE results from yesterday's first round of the presidential elections, the attempts to forge coalitions for the second round this Sunday and the arrest of a taxi driver suspected of the murder of a French tourist were the main stories in Monday's Greek papers.

Phileleftheros says that the smaller parties are the ones which will determine who will be elected president on Sunday.

The paper says that the two contestants, George Iacovou and Glafkos Clerides, have already said that they will seek to forge alliances with smaller parties for the second round.

The paper also says that for the first time party sympathisers did not take to the streets to celebrate because of the razor-thin margin that separates the two candidates.

On the murder story the paper said that police have arrested a 36-year-old taxi driver, Kyriacos Andrea Zana, as a suspect for the murder of Frenchwoman Françoise Chomik. Her body was found in a well outside Xylotymbou.

Simerini highlights Clerides' comments on Sunday night saying that he was to start contacts yesterday to form a national unity government if elected.

The paper says that there seem to be more points of convergence between Edek and Clerides rather than with Edek and Iacovou.

The paper also says that Liberal leader Nicos Rolandis is considering withdrawing as party leader after his party could only secure only 0.8 per cent of the vote.

Alithia says that the election results can be interpreted as a call by the electorate that Cyprus people want unity between parties.

It also points out that Clerides and Lyssarides got the biggest share of the new voters on the election lists.

The paper says that Lyssarides, with 10.6 per cent of the vote will play a vital part in the attempts to forge a new coalition for the second round.

Agon says that Clerides' percentage shows that he's drawing strength from voters of other parties, not just Disy.

The paper says that Diko party officials have urged their leader Spyros Kyprianou to seek an urgent meeting with Diko dissident Alexis Galanos, in view of the second round of elections this Sunday.

Haravghi says that Sunday's result which saw Iacovou leading Clerides by half a percentage point, is a good basis for a change in the administration of the country.

The paper says that Akel leader Demetris Christofias has called on voters to help Iacovou get elected on Sunday so that the fortunes of Cyprus change.

To Tharros says that the election results show that people from various parties approve of Clerides' policies.

The paper points out that the results have showed the inadequacy of George Iacovou as a candidate for the presidency.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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