In Cyprus, anger over corruption threatens traditional parties in a crucial election

Cypriot voters are going to the polls on Sunday for parliamentary elections that could profoundly alter the island's political landscape. Fueled by corruption scandals and the persistently rising cost of living, distrust of traditional parties is fostering the emergence of new political formations and could fragment Parliament.

Even though executive power remains concentrated in the hands of the president, a weakening of established parties would complicate the government's ability to pass its reforms. The elections also represent a major political test for President Nikos Christodoulides, elected in 2023 with the support of several parties now threatened by the rise of protest movements.

According to polls, the reformist ALMA movement and the liberal Volt party could enter Parliament for the first time. The far-right ELAM party is also gaining ground and could become the third largest political force in the country. Such a breakthrough would end decades of dominance by the two major traditional parties, the conservative DISY and the communist AKEL.

The political climate in recent years has been profoundly marked by several scandals. One of the most resounding involved a controversial system of "golden passports" granted to wealthy foreign investors in exchange for financial investments. Added to this were delays in several energy projects, contributing to electricity bills remaining among the highest in Europe.

For many observers, the election thus takes the form of a protest vote against the traditional political class. "It will be a protest vote against the established parties, which will also, to some extent, be directed against the government," said political analyst Christoforos Christoforou.

A record 753 candidates from more than 18 parties are vying for the 56 seats in the Cypriot Parliament. The outgoing Parliament had seven parties represented. This surge in candidacies illustrates the growing fragmentation of the political landscape and the increasing rejection of established parties by a segment of the population.

Among the new figures to emerge is Odysseas Michaelides, the former auditor general who became the founder of the ALMA movement after being dismissed in 2024. He claims he was sidelined because of his repeated denunciations of public spending and potential abuses within the administration. According to him, Cypriot voters are now deeply disillusioned with the entire political system.