Blogger's Surprise Win and Turkish Cypriot's Loss: Initial European Parliament Election Results in Cyprus

On Sunday, June 9, Cyprus held elections for European Parliament deputies and local government representatives. Preliminary results indicate that DISY will secure two seats in the European Parliament, while AKEL, DIKO, and ELAM will each take one seat. The most surprising outcome was the victory of 24-year-old blogger Phidias Panayiotou, who also secured a parliamentary seat.

After counting all the votes, the six representatives elected to the European Parliament from Cyprus are: Loukas Fourlas and Michalis Hadjipantela (DISY), Giorgos Georgiou (AKEL), Geadis Geadis (ELAM), Kostas Mavrides (DIKO), and independent candidate Phidias Panayiotou.

With these results, DISY remains the leading party, retaining its two seats in the European Parliament. In contrast, AKEL lost one of its two seats. ELAM has gained representation in the European Parliament for the first time.

Vote percentages are as follows: DISY received 91,316 votes (24.8%), AKEL 79,163 votes (21.67%), Phidias Panayiotou 71,330 votes (19.4%), ELAM 41,215 votes (11.2%), and DIKO 35,815 votes (9.7%).

These results mean Cyprus no longer has a Turkish Cypriot representative in the European Parliament, as Niyazi Kızılyürek, the first to hold this position on the AKEL list, was not re-elected.

Blogger Phidias Panayiotou celebrated his third-place finish with a large party in Eleftheria Square in Nicosia.

"We are making history. Not only in Cyprus but also abroad," said Panayiotou.

The official results of the local government elections in Cyprus will be announced soon.