New Parties Shake Up Cyprus Parliament

Sunday's parliamentary elections in Cyprus produced a more fragmented political landscape, with new and anti-establishment movements gaining ground while parties supporting President Nicos Christodoulides weakened.

The Democratic Rally (DISY) won the election with 27.2% of the vote and 17 seats. The Progressive Party of Working People, a communist party, came second with 23.9% and 15 seats.

The right-wing ELAM party, linked to the defunct Greek Golden Dawn movement, took 10.9% and will increase its representation from three to eight seats. It campaigned primarily on migration and relations with Turkey and Turkish Cypriots.

Two new parties also entered parliament. The Direct Democracy party of MEP and YouTuber Fidias Panayiotou won four seats, as did Citizens for Cyprus, a new centrist party led by former auditor general Odysseas Michaelides.

(politico, bak)