The presidential election in Cyprus, February 2008

Neophytos Loizides, Queen's University - Belfast

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Abstract

A two-round presidential election was held in Cyprus on February 17 and February 24, 2008. The election was the first to take place after the country’s accession to the European Union and the abortive UN-planned referendum on reunification in 2004. It was also the first to be contended and won by a leader of AKEL, the communist party of Cyprus. The 2008 election took place in a highly politicized environment, in the midst of concern over the future of bicommunal negotiations. Incumbent President Tassos Papadopoulos rallied the nationalist vote against his moderate rivals Ioannis Kasoulides from centre right DISY and Dimitris Christofias from AKEL. A surprise electoral outcome was the elimination of Tassos Papadopoulos in the first round despite polls predicting the contrary. Dimitris Christofias became President, and efforts to reunify the island resumed after his election to the presidency.