Cypriot Elections: Early Results Show Gains for Nationalist Right

Preliminary results from Cyprus's parliamentary elections showed weaker support for the centrist parties backing President Nicos Christodoulides, while the nationalist right-wing ELAM party recorded a significant surge.

With around 45% of the vote counted, ELAM won 11.1% support, up from 6.8% in the last parliamentary elections in 2021. If the trend holds, it could become the third largest party in the 56-member parliament, behind the right-wing Democratic Rally (DISY) and the communist Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL), which had won 27% and 22.8% of the vote respectively. ELAM is an offshoot of the banned Greek Golden Dawn party.

The anti-corruption newcomer ALMA party also appeared on track to enter parliament.

Although executive power in Cyprus rests with the president, the elections are widely seen as an indicator of political trends ahead of the 2028 presidential contest and could shape the alliances that Christodoulides will need to forge if he seeks re-election.

(reuters, sak)