Cyprus-Forum.com

[Kikapu]

AKEL courts Turkish Cypriots for Euro ballot
By Elias Hazou

COMMUNIST AKEL will be heavily courting the Turkish Cypriot vote in the upcoming euro elections, and is “seriously considering” including a Turkish Cypriot politician on its ticket, party leader Andros Kyprianou revealed yesterday.

He was speaking to the press a day after the party thrashed out the modus operandi and timetable for its election strategy.

Kyprianou said matter-of-factly that all Turkish Cypriots who hold citizenship of the Republic of Cyprus are entitled to register on the electoral roll. The registration deadline is April 4.

An estimated 80,000 Turkish Cypriots now hold Cypriot passports and IDs — a number that could give AKEL a significant edge come June.

The communist party is banking on its appeal among Turkish Cypriots given a carefully crafted pro-rapprochement outlook over the years.

“We are actively encouraging this prospect…as a party which has long supported the interests of the Turkish Cypriot community, we can justifiably expect to get the Turkish Cypriot vote,” said Kyprianou.

He added that AKEL is “seriously considering” the option of having a Turkish Cypriot on the ballot.

“If we come up with the right candidate, then certainly there is solid possibility of including them on our ballot.”

In any case, AKEL would be working hard for the best possible showing in the euro elections, which were “extremely important elections” for all EU citizens, he said.

The communist party secured two seats in the euro elections of 2004, the first time Cypriot voters participated in the vote. The party’s two current MEPs - Adamos Adamou and Kyriacos Triantafyllides - sit on the bench of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left in the European Parliament.

Though tying the Democratic Rally (DISY), which also won two seats, AKEL came a close second in the popular vote, garnering 27.9 per cent.

The number of registered voters at the time was 483,311 – out of which 503 were Turkish Cypriots and 2,054 EU nationals.

Speaking from Paris, MEP Adamos Adamou welcomed the possibility of Turkish Cypriots participating en masse.

“Naturally we welcome them…this would be a step forward for reunification,” he told the Mail.

Whether the political leadership in the breakaway regime would bring pressure to bear on people not to vote in the south was another matter, he said.

“I suspect some forces in the north will urge Turkish Cypriots to keep away, because by taking part in the process it could be seen as recognition of the Republic. Then again, there are smaller parties who are all for it.”

Repeated attempts by the breakaway regime at gaining observer status in the European Parliament have gone unheeded.




Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2009

[-mikkie2-]

It would be interesting how the north would react to this.

Would they stop TC's from crossing the border to vote?

Interesting!

[halil]

It would be interesting how the north would react to this.

Would they stop TC's from crossing the border to vote?

Interesting!

yes it will be very interesting ..... wait and see it ? how many will pass to vote ?

mikkie2 do u think we care whats happenning at the otherside of the border ? or do u think TC's cares what the AKEL says ?

[-mikkie2-]

No, I care what CYPRIOTS think about the future of Cyprus.

[Oracle]

This is a good first step. With confidence eventually the real TCs will come back into the fold and not just vote for AKEL over ethnic reasons, but vote true to their aspirations as individuals.

[Bananiot]

Probably they have Izzet in mind.

[halil]

Probably they have Izzet in mind.

Bananiot ,
everybody knows that İzzet is a member of the AKEL (No secret ). He and his friends will vote for AKEL .... say 300-600 votes .....

[DT.]

It would be interesting how the north would react to this.

Would they stop TC's from crossing the border to vote?

Interesting!

yes it will be very interesting ..... wait and see it ? how many will pass to vote ?

mikkie2 do u think we care whats happenning at the otherside of the border ? or do u think TC's cares what the AKEL says ?

WHat border halil....its a cease fire line. You sound as if you wouldn't be very happy if a TC is voted in the EP elections. Isn't that what talat wanted all along?