(CPOD) Jun. 10, 2004 – The Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL) holds the lead among Cypriot voters in the election to the European Parliament, according to a poll by EOS Gallup Europe. 37 per cent of respondents would vote for AKEL, while 28 per cent would support the Democratic Coalition (DISY).
(CPOD) Jun. 10, 2004 – The Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL) holds the lead among Cypriot voters in the election to the European Parliament, according to a poll by EOS Gallup Europe. 37 per cent of respondents would vote for AKEL, while 28 per cent would support the Democratic Coalition (DISY).
The Democratic Party (DIKO) is third with 19 per cent, followed by the Movement for Social Democracy (KISOS) with five per cent. The election is scheduled for Jun. 13.
Two DISY members of parliament—Rikkos Erotokritou and Prodromos Prodromou—have formed a new Rally for Europe party along with former DISY leader Yiannakis Matsis.
Cyprus has been split in two since 1974, when a Greek-sponsored attempt to seize the government was met by military intervention from Turkey. In the skirmish, the Turks gained control of almost two-fifths of the island, which in 1983 declared itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The Greek side of Cyprus joined the European Union (EU) on May 1.
An attempt at reunification failed in April, after 75 per cent of Greek Cypriot voters rejected a proposal sponsored by the United Nations (UN) that would have created a federation of two states—one Greek and the other Turkish—with a loose central government.
In the 1999 general election, AKEL received 34.7 per cent of the vote, while DISY got 34 per cent. Cyprus will elect six members to the 732-seat European Parliament.
Polling Data
What party list would you vote for in the elections to the European Parliament?
Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL) | 37% |
Democratic Coalition (DISY) | 28% |
Democratic Party (DIKO) | 19% |
Movement for Social Democracy (KISOS) | 5% |
Ecological and Environmental Movement (KEP) | 3% |
United Democrats (EDI) | 2% |
New Horizons (NO) | 1% |
Other | 5% |
Source: EOS Gallup Europe
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 714 Cypriot voters, conducted from May 5 to May 22, 2004. No margin of error was provided.
