Independent candidates ponder who to back (Update)

Independent candidates and smaller parties were on Monday being courted for the runoff presidential elections set to be held between Andreas Mavroyiannis and Nikos Christodoulides this Sunday.

Mavroyiannis had meetings with Disy’s Averof Neophytou, Green Party head Charalambos Theopemptou and independent Achilleas Demetriades. No statements were made afterwards.

Demetriades, who took around two per cent of the vote, said on Sunday night that he will make his decision about who to back known by Thursday. He met with Mavroyiannis at 8pm on Monday.

Meanwhile, two other independents Constantinos Christofides and George Colocassides said that they would not guide their voters on who to choose for the second round.

Christofides said he would meet both candidates on Tuesday and take the matter to the council of his New Wave movement. He specified the candidate of his movement’s choosing would be a recommendation and every member had the right to proceed as they see fit.

Similarly, Colocassides is also expected to have meetings with each candidate on Tuesday. He will see Christodoulides at 10am and Mavroyiannis at 11:15am.

Far-right Elam, whose party leader Christos Christou came fourth on Sunday, said that they would be sending a questionnaire to the two candidates to answer.

The party said that they would announce their choice who to back on Wednesday night.

In statements on Monday, spokesman Geadis Geadi said that the party sees itself as the “kingmaker” as their votes could tip the balance in favour of one candidate.

“Elam expects the two candidates to position themselves in the manner appropriate to a democracy in which there must be pluralism and to respect the entire Cypriot people as the President of the Republic must be President for all Cypriots, without exclusions and without exceptions.”