Protest vote puts far-right party in Cyprus parliament
NICOSIA-- Far-right ELAM and two other small parties won seats in Cyprus' parliament for the first time during elections Sunday, marked by the second-lowest voter turnout and biggest shift among swing voters in Cypriot election history.
Analyst Christophoros Christophorou said final results indicate a strong undercurrent of disillusionment with the country's traditional powerhouses. A total eight parties have entered the 56-seat parliament, the most in 15 years. A third of registered voters didn't cast ballots.
"I want to believe that the choice of a large portion of the electorate not to participate in the elections will give pause to everyone," Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said in a written statement.
