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Cyprus to Elect New Parliament on Sunday

Just over half a million Greek Cypriots go to the polls on Sunday in parliamentary elections seen as a crucial indicator ahead of the presidential race in 2013.
The May 22 elections will determine the 56 members of the next five-year term of the House of Representatives, a mainly legislative body with no executive powers. The island’s executive president is elected by a direct vote.
This will be the 10th parliamentary polls since the Republic of Cyprus was established in 1960.
In 1985 the Constitution raised the number of deputies elected to the House of Representatives from 50 to 80, 56 from the Greek Cypriot community and 24 from the Turkish Cypriot.
412 candidates from six parties are contesting a seat in the new parliament.
According to the latest public opinion polls, the Communist, or Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL), of President Dimitris Christofias is heading for a humiliating electoral defeat while the main opposition Democratic Rally (DISY) is tipped to become the winner of the poll.
Although ahead, the right-wing DISY is still not predicted to win a clear majority in the 56-seat house, where both it and AKEL each now have 18 deputies.
Other smaller parties vying for seats are the Movement for Social Democracy (EDEK), with five seats, the European Party, with three seats, and the Ecological and Environmental Movement, with one delegate.
The Interior Ministry estimates the total number of Greek Cypriot registered voters at 530,000. Approximately 544 Turkish Cypriots living in the south have the right to vote in parliamentary elections.
(source: DPA)

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