The race for the Presidency of the House of Representatives has entered a new phase following AKEL’s decision to field its Secretary General, Stefanos Stefanou, as a candidate and the confirmed backing of his bid by Alma – Citizens for Cyprus.
The move has altered the political calculations ahead of Thursday’s vote, prompting other parties to reassess their strategies in what is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable parliamentary contests in recent years.
AKEL starting strong
Based on current parliamentary numbers, Stefanou appears to enter the race with a strong starting position. AKEL’s 15 seats, combined with the four held by Alma – Citizens for Cyprus, would give his candidacy an initial base of 19 votes.
Under these circumstances, political observers consider it highly likely that Stefanou will secure a place in a second round of voting, which increasingly appears inevitable. No candidate is currently seen as having a realistic path to the 29 votes required for victory in the first round.
Attention is now focused on the Democratic Party (DIKO) and the decisions it will make regarding its own candidacy.
Papadopoulos' decision
According to reports, DIKO is leaning towards nominating party president Nicolas Papadopoulos for the position. However, his ability to reach the second round will depend largely on whether he can secure support beyond DIKO’s eight parliamentary seats.
The positions of ELAM and Direct Democracy are therefore viewed as potentially decisive.
Sources suggest that DIKO believes support from ELAM in the first round cannot be ruled out, particularly following the confirmation of Stefanou’s candidacy. The party is also understood to be seeking the support of Direct Democracy’s four MPs.
Should such support materialise, Papadopoulos could potentially secure 20 votes, placing him in a strong position to compete with Stefanou for a place in the final stage of the election.
Elam and Direct Democracy
DIKO is expected to take its final decisions on Thursday morning following a meeting of its parliamentary group. Sources indicate that if Papadopoulos fails to advance to the second round, all options remain open, including backing either House President Annita Demetriou or Stefanou, or abstaining from the vote altogether.
Meanwhile, ELAM continues to plan for a first-round candidacy by party leader Christos Christou.
According to reports, no alternative decision has yet been taken. The party’s parliamentary group is scheduled to meet at 2pm on Thursday, just two hours before the start of the House session, in order to assess the latest developments.
If Christou does not progress to the second round, ELAM’s options appear more limited. Party leaders have already ruled out supporting either Demetriou or an AKEL-backed candidate, making abstention a likely outcome under that scenario.
However, ELAM has not excluded the possibility of supporting Papadopoulos should he reach the second round. Party officials have also left open the possibility of supporting another candidate from the Democratic Rally (DISY) camp, although DISY has repeatedly stated that it will remain behind Annita Demetriou until the end of the contest.
Balance of power swinging many ways
The position of Direct Democracy remains equally significant. The movement has yet to reveal its intentions publicly, with discussions reportedly continuing over several options, including backing Papadopoulos, supporting Demetriou or abstaining.
There has also been discussion within the movement about entering the race with its own candidate in the first round. The name of MP Dimitris Souglis has reportedly been considered, although no final decision had been reached by late Wednesday.
With negotiations continuing and party positions still evolving, Thursday’s vote is shaping up as the first major test of the new parliamentary balance of power. Smaller parties appear set to play a pivotal kingmaker role, while a second round of voting remains the most likely route to electing the next President of the House of Representatives.
