Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-12-18

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] Initial response of elected mayors of main cities

[02] Party leaders concerned over high abstention rates

[01] Initial response of elected mayors of main cities

The negative course of our city can be reversed, new Mayor of the capital Nicosia, Konstantinos Yiorkatzis said shortly after his electoral victory. Yiorkatzis garnered 57.11% of the vote.

Addressing his voters, Yiorkatzis thanked all citizens who supported his vision and his proposals. I thank you for your decision to work together, in order to change Nicosia, making it a proud city, Yiorkatzis noted. Moreover, he thanked the parties that supported his candidacy, DISY, DIKO and EVROKO.

Referring to the high rate of abstention, Yiorkatzis called on all voters who decided not to turn out to realize that things can change only through their participation in democratic election process.

The Mayor of the southern coastal town of Limassol, Andreas Christou, who was reelected for a second five-year term, said in his statement that he will continue with the work he has embarked on and added that congratulations for this victory belong to the citizens who made their choice in a clear and unambiguous way.

Our goal, he continued, is to turn Limassol into an exemplary city, which will serve its citizens and make way for new achievements in the future. Christou won with 57.71%, with 94.59% of the votes in his constituency counted.

Pafos Mayor Savvas Vergas, in statements from his campaign headquarters, thanked the citizens of his city for supporting his candidacy for re-election, noting that he will work to mitigate the negative impact of the financial crisis on the city.

He also noted that he will work for the city to win the bid of the European Capital of Culture of 2017 (Pafos is a candidate for the title, along with Nicosia and Limassol). Vergas received 49.10% of the vote.

The new Mayor of the Turkish-occupied town of Kyrenia Glafkos Kaliolou sent a message of return to the city, adding that the citizens of Kyrenia are not second class citizens. He thanked the voters for deciding to raise their voice over party rhetoric and conditions that are not consistent with their desires and aspirations.

The people of Kyrenia, he said, are determined to work hard, in order to return to their homes. Kariolou further noted that politicians should align their plans towards this direction. Finally, he thanked all voters for supporting his candidacy and called on everybody to work together to achieve this difficult objective. Kariolou got 52,78% of the vote.

In Larnaca, Andreas Louroudjiadis was elected mayor, with 55.41% of the vote. In his statement, the new mayor said that the message conveyed by the people of Larnaca is a clear choice, adding that people are for change towards a more extrovert, dynamic city which can assume a leading role.

Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied the island`s northern part.

Municipal elections take place every five years. This time there was a record number of European Union nationals who registered to vote in local elections. Nine municipalities continue to be under Turkish occupation.

[02] Party leaders concerned over high abstention rates

Main opposition Democratic Rally (DISY) leader Nikos Anastasiades said in his statement that todays election results send a clear message to the government over voters discontent, and added that results justify the policy of our party, which we follow with consistency.

Speaking at the party headquarters, in Nicosia, following the counting of ballots, DISY President noted that 26 out from a total of 38 candidates have won in local elections. He added that the overall share won by party tickets justifies the policy which the party is following, and noted that his party will be actively engaged in all municipalities and communities, aiming to upgrade local authority and improve quality of life for citizens.

Anastasiades also said that the biggest winner in todays elections is the policy of social alliance and of national understanding followed by DISY, and noted that todays success is bringing in more responsibilities for his party. National and social interests should take priority over party interests, the DISY leader said and concluded that today is the day of a new, more optimistic path for the country, its citizens and the youth.

Secretary General of the ruling AKEL party Andros Kyprianou noted in his statement that todays voting showed that people have rejected all efforts to marginalize AKEL and added that the partys share of the vote in these elections has improved, in comparison to previous local elections, held in 2006.

Speaking during a press conference, in Nicosia, Kyprianou said that the verdict of the Cypriot people will be respected and noted that his party will continue the effort to improve and strengthen local governance, in order to serve the needs of the citizens more effectively.

Kyprianou added that local election results are not linked to the Presidential elections, due in February 2013, and noted that it is premature to talk about the upcoming elections for the Presidency. He said that his party will start to prepare for Presidential elections in the middle of 2012. The leader of AKEL also expressed concern over high abstention rates, and noted that all politicians should be concerned over how to confront increasing no-show of voters.

Democratic Party (DIKO) President Marios Garoyian stated that results of local authority elections cannot be considered a prelude to the Presidential elections. Speaking at party headquarters, in Nicosia, Garoyian extended his congratulations to newly elected local authority leaders, wishing them every success in their job. Moreover, he expressed his concern about high abstention rates, adding that the Cypriot people are sending thereby a message of discontent over the way party competition is being conducted.

The people demand that politicians finally undertake a collective effort to overcome the political crisis, lead the way to financial recovery, and justify the efforts for a free and reunited Cyprus, he added.

DIKO President also noted that the day after has to find everybody more determined to follow the path designated by the Cypriot people, which he called the path of social consensus, political understanding and strategic convergence.

House President and President of Socialist Movement EDEK Yiannakis Omirou expressed in his statement his satisfaction for the trust shown by citizens to a number of candidates supported by the party, and noted that EDEK will study election results in the coming days.

Omirou also said he was especially concerned over high abstention rates, noting that he interprets this as a message of discontent by the citizens to the political system and organized politics. The answer to this, he went on, is to adopt the policies that will address the citizens concerns.

He concluded his message by saying that EDEK will actively support local authorities in an effort to modernize local governance, reform the institutional framework and strengthen their powers and responsibilities.

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