“I hope the best is elected” President Nicos Anastasiades said Sunday, after casting his vote for today’s elections for a new Archbishop of Cyprus. The President voted in his hometown, Limassol and replying to a question by the media, he said that the Archbishop is the spiritual leader for the Greek Orthodox and therefore, he sincerely hopes that the best will be elected.
The President said that he will have the opportunity to meet up with the new primate during his enthronement, adding that the Church has a historical role to play as well as a spiritual and social.
Asked whether it has a political role as well, the President said he does not think that in modern times the Church can be involved in politics. But he went on to say that the Church of course has an opinion on national issues.
Process so far runs smoothly says Chief Returning Officer
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The voting process began without any problems and so far everything runs smoothly, the Chief Returning Officer Yiannis Harilaou said, in statements at the Archbishopric, in Nicosia, this morning, calling on people to vote.
Permanent Secretary of the Interior Ministry Costas Constantinou and the Archbishopric’s legal advisor Simos Angelides were also present during the media statements.
Harilaou said that process is similar to Presidential elections, but in a more complicated way due to the peculiarities of church elections. He added that people can learn where they can vote by visiting the Church’s website or by calling at 22 554600.
Harilaou is expected to make new statements at 1300 during the one-hour break.
The results will be known later tonight.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry said that these elections have some particularities adding that they have also been working for the upcoming Presidential elections for the past 6 months.
Simos Angelides, legal advisor of the Archdiocese, stated that he also contributed in the elections to verify that they will be impartial, objective and accurate.
Source: Cyprus News Agency