Nicosia, Feb. 5 (BNA): Cyprus is voting Sunday to choose a new president in an election that polls suggest is unlikely to yield a clear winner, setting the stage for a February 12 runoff.
Marked by the end of two terms for incumbent conservative President Nicos Anastasiades, some 561,000 Greek Cypriots are eligible to vote after a campaign dominated by issues such as corruption, a faltering peace process with separated Turkish Cypriots, labor disputes over accelerating inflation and irregular migration.
Polling stations opened at 0500 GMT and closed at 1600 GMT. Meteorologists said there will be heavy rains and storms on Sunday, which could affect voter turnout.
With 14 candidates in contention, polls suggest there is a race between three front-runners: former foreign minister Nikos Christodoulds, who leads the polls, leader of the right-wing DISY party Averof Neophyto, and career diplomat Andreas Mavroyannis backed by the left-wing AKEL party.
An editorial in liberal daily Politis said Cyprus had been called upon to elect a president to rule “honestly, impartially and transparently,” while best-selling Fileleftheros highlighted expectations of high abstentions.
Polls indicate that none of the front-runners will receive an absolute majority, leading to a run-off. All three main contenders were close associates of Anastasiades who, by law, could not contest a third five-year term.