Third candidate pulls out of presidential election

A third candidate has withdrawn his name from the presidential elections, a day before the official nomination procedure, chief returning officer Costas Constantinou said on Wednesday.

Constantinos Panayi has pulled out of the race for the island’s top post, two days after independent candidate Marios Eliades pulled out, following Christodoulos Protopapas last week.

This decision was announced as the official nomination procedure for the presidential elections is set to take place at the Filoxenia conference centre from 8am to noon on Thursday.

The chief returning officer had earlier said a large number of candidates are expected, adding that preparations were made for at least 16.

So far, Averof Neophytou backed by Disy, Andreas Mavroyiannis backed by Akel and Nikos Christodoulides backed by Diko, Edek and Dipa as well as Christos Christou backed by Elam have announced their candidacy.

Independents Achilleas Demetriades, Constantinos Christofides, Giorgos Kolokasides, Alexios Savvides, Celestina De Petro, Charalambos Aristotelous, Andronikos Zervides, Hulia Hovrina Komninou, Loucas Stavrou and Andreas Efstratiou had also announced their candidacy.

By law, candidates must be nominated by one person and seconded by 100 others.

Moreover, each must pay €2,000 to submit their candidacy.

Publishing the list of 100 people supporting him, Kolokasides said he will officially present his candidacy at 10.30am. His candidacy will be proposed by Edek MP Kostis Efstathiou, despite the fact Edek is supporting former foreign minister Christodoulides.

Every candidate will have 15 minutes at the conference centre. From noon until 6pm, there will be an opportunity to file objections with the chief electoral officer. Those are examined and decisions are issued immediately, Protopapas said.

The finalised list of candidates running for president will be announced at around 6.30pm.

The first round of the presidential election will be held on February 5. To win, a candidate needs to gain 51 per cent of the vote, as Tasos Papadopoulos did in 2003. If not a second round will be held between the top two on February 12.

The state budget for the upcoming presidential elections amounts to €7 million.