Sixteen months before Cyprus goes to the polls, the country already appears to be in full election mode.
Political parties are searching for candidates, aspiring presidents are positioning themselves for the race ahead and public debate is increasingly dominated by electoral calculations. It is as if the election were taking place tomorrow rather than in 2028.
The problem is not simply that politicians are campaigning early. It is that campaigning is beginning to overshadow governing.
Politics looks increasingly focused on 2028
The trend extends beyond party headquarters. It increasingly reaches the Presidency itself.
Rather than concentrating solely on governing during the remainder of his term, President Nikos Christodoulides is often viewed through the lens of a future re-election bid. The danger is that policy decisions become shaped by polling considerations and political optics rather than by the country's long-term needs.
Responsibility, however, does not rest with the Presidency alone.
Political parties have already immersed themselves in electoral arithmetic, while Parliament risks becoming an extension of the campaign trail. Instead of legislative work, meaningful oversight and difficult decisions, political discourse is frequently dominated by accusations, staged confrontations and headline-friendly announcements.
Populism thrives when elections dominate
When political attention shifts towards the next election, the incentive to make difficult choices diminishes.
Promises become easier than solutions. Political courage becomes harder to find.
Few politicians want to upset voters. Even fewer are willing to absorb political costs. The result is a political environment in which everyone appears ready to offer benefits while leaving others to deal with the consequences.
That is fertile ground for populism.
Citizens' problems are not on hold
Meanwhile, daily life continues.
The cost of living remains a concern. Housing affordability continues to pressure households. The health system faces ongoing challenges. Education requires reform. Long-standing weaknesses in public administration remain unresolved.
None of these issues will wait until after the election campaign ends.
They require decisions, implementation and accountability now.
Democracy requires governing between elections
Elections are an essential part of democracy.
But democracy also depends on effective governance between elections.
A five-year term cannot be politically paralysed because future candidates are already focused on their next campaign. Public office comes with responsibilities that extend far beyond electoral ambitions.
The real political scandal is not that some politicians are eager to become president.
It is that those already entrusted with governing and legislating sometimes behave as though their responsibilities have already ended.
Cyprus does not need 16 months of campaigning.
It needs 16 months of work.
And that is the very least citizens are entitled to expect from those elected to serve the public interest.
