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Cypriots go to polls

More than half a million Cypriots estimated to vote in May

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4 May 2011

The Republic's Central Elections Commission announced this week that a total of 531,136 Cypriot citizens have the right to vote in the parliamentary elections of May 22.

The number of enclaved voters (Greek Cypriots who live in the Republic's northern Turkish occupied areas) in the districts of Kyrenia and Famagusta will be announced at a later date.

Voters for Nicosia district amount to 191,516, for Kyrenia district 28,280, for Famagusta district 107,914, for Larnaka district 53,598, for Limassol district 109,294 and for Paphos district 40,534.

Parliamentary elections take place every five years in Cyprus for the 56 seat House. This will be the 10th poll since the Republic of Cyprus was established in 1960. Cypriot nationals who live abroad will also be able to vote.

According to the 1960 Constitution, 50 deputies are elected to the House. In June 1985 the House, by a unanimous decision, increased this number to 80 (56 from the Greek Cypriot community and 24 from the Turkish Cypriot community) by virtue of the Law of Necessity.

The Constitution stipulates that "the Greek community of Cyprus", comprising Greek Cypriots, Latins, Armenians and Maronites, elects its own representatives to the House and "the Turkish community of Cyprus" its own deputies by a ratio of 70 percent to 30 percent.

The Turkish Cypriots withdrew unilaterally from Parliament in 1964 following intercommunal fighting and as part of their rebellion against the government.

Six political parties are currently represented to the House of Representatives which dissolved last week ahead of May's elections: the left wing AKEL which received 31.16 percent (18 seats), the right wing Democratic Rally (DISI) with 30.33 percent (18 seats), the Democratic Party (DIKO) with 17.91 percent (11 seats), the Social Democrats Movement EDEK 8,91 percent (5 seats), the European Party (EVROKO) with 5.73 percent (3 seats) and the Ecologists with 1,95 percent (1 seat).

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