Printing of the ballot papers for the 24 May parliamentary elections began on Friday with the Nicosia district, where approximately 215,000 papers will be produced. Printing across all six districts is expected to be completed by the end of next week, with a total of around 618,000 ballot papers. Chief Returning Officer Elikkos Elia and Deputy Director of the Government Printing Office Charalambos Violaris inspected the launch of the process.
Elia said 1,217 polling stations will operate on election day, staffed by 6,500 people including police officers. Of those stations, 446 will be in Nicosia, 349 in Limassol, 203 in Larnaca, 135 in Paphos, 59 in Famagusta and 13 abroad, in Athens, Thessaloniki, London and Brussels. A "where do I vote" application will go live before 15 May.
Parties step up their pitches
Akel General Secretary Stefanos Stefanou, speaking at a pancyprian concert, set out the left's priorities for the incoming parliament: decent wages and pensions, addressing the cost-of-living and housing crises, support for workers and small and medium-sized businesses, investment in public education, health and the environment, and support for young families.
Disy said in a statement that citizens face a crucial decision in 16 days on the structure of the welfare state and who can genuinely guarantee the viability of the Social Insurance Fund and the dignity of pensioners. Disy Vice-President Yannis Karousos also accused Akel and Elam of voting against an amendment by Disy and EPP MEP Michalis Hadjipantelas to the EU's new Multiannual Financial Framework 2028 to 2034, which he said incorporated an explicit reference to the rights of Cypriot displaced persons and their property in the occupied areas.
Democratic Alignment president Marios Garoyian called for greater security, fewer inequalities and a meaningful improvement in quality of life, centred on a strong welfare state with an effective health system and targeted support for vulnerable groups.
Volt co-chairs Andromachi Sophokleous and Panos Loizou Parras said the party is seeking a strong entry into parliament with a focus on transparency, describing Volt as a pragmatic and modern political force aiming to move beyond traditional party confrontation, with emphasis on housing policy, the cost of living, the green transition and institutional accountability.
The Movement of Ecologists called on the government to take immediate political and diplomatic steps to ensure access to Armenomonastiro, saying the Turkish occupation authorities' refusal to permit pilgrimage to the Armenian religious site is unacceptable.
Elam MEP Geadis Geadis dismissed Disy's claims over the MFF amendment as deliberately misleading, saying the text is falsely presented as providing financial compensation when, in a 527-page document, the eight references to compensation in Cyprus concern Turkish Cypriots exclusively.
The Strovolos municipality reiterated that the Elam billboard that drew a formal complaint from Accept LGBTQI Cyprus is lawfully licensed and does not violate applicable legislation, based on legal guidance the municipality obtained.
Source: CNA
