Cyprus election expected to shake up national politics

Voters in Cyprus will vote on May 24 in parliamentary elections expected to significantly reshape the political landscape. The parliament has limited powers within the presidential system, but the election outcome is still expected to alter political dynamics. Opinion polls indicate a profound transformation marked by weakening of the two dominant parties, collapse of traditional centrist forces, and emergence of new political movements. The race for first place is expected to be between DISY and AKEL, each polling around 20%. DISY faces a major test after losing the presidency and internal tensions following Nikos Christodoulides’ 2023 election. AKEL aims to win for the first time since 2006 by building on recent momentum. Corruption scandals and declining trust in the political establishment are eroding support for traditional parties.

"Voters in Cyprus will head to the polls on May 24 for what is shaping up to be one of the most significant parliamentary elections in decades. Although the parliament holds limited powers within the presidential system of the Republic of Cyprus, the outcome of the election is expected to substantially reshape the country's political landscape. Citing recent opinion polls, journalist and political analyst Sotiris Paroutis says that Cyprus is heading toward "a profound transformation of its political scene," characterized not only by the weakening of the country's two dominant parties but also by the collapse of traditional centrist forces and the emergence of new political movements to fill that space."

"Polls suggest that the race for first place will once again be decided between Cyprus's two traditional political heavyweights: the conservative Democratic Rally (DISY) and the left-wing Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL). Polls suggest that although Cyprus's two traditional political heavyweights will lead the field with approx. 20% each, traditional centrist parties are in decline. For DISY, the election will be a major test of political resilience following the loss of the presidency and the internal tensions that followed the election of independent candidate and former DISY member Nikos Christodoulides as president in 2023."

"AKEL, meanwhile, hopes to win the general election for the first time since 2006 by capitalizing on the political momentum it has built in recent years. But even if the two major parties remain dominant, opinion polls indicate that they are unlikely to repeat the high vote shares they obtained in recent decades. Both parties are expected to get approximately 20% of the vote each. Corruption scandals, growing public frustration and declining trust in the political establishment appear to be steadily eroding Cyprus's"

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