Nicosia: It is anticipated that the Minister of the Interior's Decree for the upcoming May 24 Parliament Elections will be released either today or tomorrow, according to the Ministry's Permanent Secretary, Elikkos Elia. Elia revealed to CNA that preparatory activities have already commenced for the submission of nominations scheduled for May 6.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Elia confirmed that following the dissolution of the House of Representatives on April 23, the subsequent Decree for the Elections will be issued. However, the approval of the House's dissolution by the President of the Republic is necessary before the Decree's publication. This approval is expected to occur shortly, following the conclusion of an informal meeting of EU Heads of State or Government currently taking place in Nicosia.
Elia stated, "We are exactly one month away from the elections, which will be held on Sunday, May 24." He highlighted that preparations are underway with nominations set for submission on May 6. Elia provided an early estimate that 18 parties might participate in the elections, an increase from the 15 parties in the 2021 elections. The number of candidates is also predicted to exceed the 651 individuals from 2021. Interest from potential independent candidates has been noted, with seven independents having participated in the previous elections. The official nomination count will be confirmed on May 6.
He further mentioned that nominations will be accepted for parliamentary representatives of the Maronite, Armenian, and Latin religious minorities. Elia emphasized the efforts being made to ensure a smooth election process, stating, "We are in the final stretch. The staff of the Interior Ministry and the District Administrations are working systematically to ensure a smooth election period and that everything runs well on polling day."
Polling stations will be available in Athens, Thessaloniki, London, and Brussels. Additionally, the 'Where Do I Vote' service will be launched to enable citizens to verify their designated polling stations using their ID number and date of birth. This application is scheduled to be accessible from May 10 to 15.