Cyprus heads to polls in presidential elections as runoff expected

Cyprus went to the polls on Sunday to elect a new president whose challenges will include breaking a deadlock in reunification talks, tackling irregular migration, and repairing the country's image tarnished by corruption scandals.

Barring a major upset, the Sunday vote is unlikely to produce a clear winner, setting the stage for a runoff on Feb. 12.

Fourteen candidates are running, though the vote is likely to be a tight race between former foreign minister Nikos Christodouldes, who is leading the polls, right-wing DISY party leader Averof Neophytou, and career diplomat Andreas Mavroyiannis backed by the leftist AKEL party.

All three main contenders have been close associates of incumbent right-wing President Nicos Anastasiades, who by law cannot contest a third five-year term.

Polls have suggested turnout will be low. Some 28% of voters abstained in the last election in 2018.

Anastasiades's administration was hit by a corruption scandal in 2020 over its lucrative citizenship-for-investment scheme. A government commission of inquiry found that hundreds of passports had been issued illegally and that the system ran without adequate oversight for years.

MG