Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 98-02-09

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

News Update

Monday, 09/02/98

CONTENTS

• [01] First round of Presidential elections show no clear winner

[01] First round of Presidential elections show no clear winner

The seven candidates had the following results:

George Iacovou 40.61% Glafcos Clerides 40.06% Vassos Lyssarides 10.59% Alexis Galanos 4.04% George Vassiliou 3.00% Nicos Koutsou 0.91% Nicos Rolandis 0.78%.

A run-off election will take place next Sunday, 15.2.98, in which the first two leading contestants will fight it out for a simple majority of the electorate.

The outcome of the election in now going to depend on alliances with the smaller parties.

Following the result of the first round, President Glafcos Clerides repeated his intention to invite all political parties for a government of national unity.

His opponent George Iacovou, who has the support of communist party AKEL and of Mr Kyprianou's Democratic Party (DIKO) will also try to woo the smaller parties.

This is the eighth presidential election since the island's independence in 1960, and the first with such a big number of candidates. It is also the first time the ballot was given to 18-year olds, following a 1997 constitutional amendment. The total number of registered voters is 446, 976.

Commentators envisage a very close-run second round on 15.2.98, with slightly better odds for president Clerides, due to a wider base for co- operation with the smaller parties on several issues.

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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