The high percentage of abstention in the European elections is a major issue that must be the subject of concern and discussion both on the EU level and among political forces, President Nicos Anastasiades said Monday in a written statement.
Referring to the result of the elections, the President expressed satisfaction over the confidence the people of Cyprus showed in the forces that support the government, and assured he will continue to strive for recovery from the financial crisis and the successful handling of the Cyprus problem.
Ruling DISY candidates were elected as two of the six MEPs Cyprus has. AKEL also has two and DIKO and EDEK/Greens one each.
“However, the high percentage of abstention in the elections for the representatives at the European Parliament is a major issue. Indeed, this issue will be included in the agenda of the European Council during its session tomorrow. It is important to convince European citizens through proper policies that respond to their needs that Europe and its institutions are on their side, so that they may participate dynamically in European affairs,” he said.
The new MEPS are Eleni Theocharous and Christos Stylianides of DISY, Takis Hadjigeorgiou and Neoclis Sylikiotis of AKEL party, Costas Mavrides of DIKO and Demetris Papadakis of EDEK.
The breakdown of votes was as follows: AKEL received 26.98% (69,852 votes), DIKO 10.83% or 28,044, DISY 37.75% (97,732), National Popular Front ELAM 2.69% (6,957), Citizens Alliance 6.78% (17,549), Social Democrats Movement EDEK/Environmentalists and Ecologists Movement 7.68% (19,894), DRASY – EYLEM 0.86% (2,220), Animal Party Cyprus 0.88% (2,288), Message of Hope 3.83% (9,907), Socialist Party Cyprus 0.11% (278), independent Andreas Efstratiou 0.18%, Theodoulou Theodoulos 0.03%, Ioannou Andreas 0.11%, Kyriakou Kostas (Utopos) 0.13%, Levent Sener 1.05%, Minas Michalis 0.08%, Stavrou Loukas 0.03% and Christoforou Adamos 0.03%.
Source: Cyprus Mail