Cyprus-Forum.com

[TheCabbie]

I've been following the events in Peyia regarding the ex-pats ensuring they are registered to vote and the thought has occured to me that with the huge number of foreigners buying property and living here, and the close race in most of our elections, they could actually hold the balance of power, if they do, is it for better, or worse?

[Svetlana]

Hi Cabbie

As 'foreigners' are not allowed to vote for those in the main Parliament, I think they will have little influence. As speaking Greek will be a pre-requisite to effectively running for Mayor or MEP, I do not see much involvment there, either.

Lana

[pumpernickle]

sorry, but by joining the EU, Cyprus threw a huge chunk of its national sovereignty into the joint bin that is Europe.

I know the opportunity to stick one in the eye to the Turks must have been highly overwhleming, but what most people would not have considered is that EU law takes precedent over the laws passed by sovereign governments, and there are all kinds of implications...politically, hhuman rights wise, food standards wise, import/export issues, law and order, sex trafficking (see my post on those bloody cabarets) etc.

the EU states that there are limited political rights to ex pats in EU countries. So logic states that if Cypriots feel very strongly that only pure bloods can vote, then one should have thought of this before the decision to get involved in th European Union.

[Hazza]

Wouldn't one have a case of racial descrimination if they were not allowed to vote because they are not of a specific race?

[dms007]

how can it be racial discrimination.
there are some rights that a citizen can enjoy while it can be denied non citizens...like voting and governing....
it cannot be termed as discrimination.
how can people who dont belong to a particular country care much? they would still owe allegiance to their motherland if the need be....

[sk]

once again lana is right....

[pumpernickle]

The issue of Paeia (excuse my spelling) Brits having the right to vote in localised politics is so not threatening to Greek Cypriots and their power and democracy!!

we're talking about stuff like town planning, rubbish collection, policing, street lighting, shit like that. f**k it ,let them have a bit of a say, it cannot by law go any further.

It's no big deal.

I think the bigger issues at stake are the increasing disillusionment and confusion amongst Cypriots on what it is to be a greek cypriot in the modern age, and how come power and identity are somehow being lost.

See the following factors: Globalisation, Pooling of sovereignty in large political bodies E.G. the EU, the crisis of masculinity, challenges to the church and the erosion of the relationship between church and state and church and society, the demise of the tourism mega boom.

All these things are making Greek Cypriots shit their pants, and they dont know why. As a result, everyone is crying because seven fat, sweaty, balding, pie faced ex-pats want their rubbish taken away on a Tuesday morning, and the pot holes to be filled in with greater efficiency.

[Hazza]

If Joe Bloggs buys a house in Cyprus, resides in Cyprus but isn't allowed to vote because he is not a Greek Cypriot, then under EU Laws, the Cypriot goverment are descriminating against him because his isn't a Cypriot.

Or am I missing the point here altogether?

[pumpernickle]

People react to the strangest things do they not.

All this fuss over nothing.
Why do they give the vote to village idiots like the potato farmers of paralimni is my question. Like people are too dumb to realise their sneaky little price fixing scam.

Doh!

It's all about Larnaca. The best place on the island by a zillion miles.

[Piratis]

As DMS said citizens have more rights in their own country than foreigners. EU citizens are something between Cyprus citizens and foreigners. They have more rights than foreigners but less rights than citizens. This is how it is in all EU countries.

As speaking Greek will be a pre-requisite to effectively running for Mayor or MEP, I do not see much involvment there, either.

Are you sure about that? Maybe it is Greek or Turkish?