Record number of Cypriots submit candidacy for parliamentary elections

A record number of Cypriots submitted candidacies for parliamentary elections to be held on May 22, an electoral official said on Wednesday.

Cyprus' chief electoral officer said 494 people, 82 more than five years ago, are contesting the 56 seats of the House of Representatives.

Most candidates came from six established parties and two are contesting the elections for the first time.

But there are also five new political formations, mostly protest groups, which sprang up in the aftermath of an unprecedented economic crisis.

It is expected that up to 43 seats will be shared by the two bigger parties, governing center-right Democratic Rally party (DISY) and left-wing Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL), with no party gaining an absolute majority.

The most recent polls showed DISY in the lead with about 22.5 per cent and AKEL in the second place with 16.4 per cent and a record proportion of 30 per cent saying that they will not vote.

Most of the remaining seats will be shared among the center-right Democratic Party and the socialist EDEK party, with two or three seats going to single-seat groups.

The government stability is not at stake under Cyprus' presidential system of government.

Interest is centered on how voters will react after a three-year harsh austerity program that helped bring back economic stability and growth.

All parties except DISY accuse the government of making the people poorer by applying measures asked for by international lenders. Endit