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Far Right and New Movements Fragment Cyprus Parliament

The result forces President Nikos Christodoulides to find new partners to secure legislation before the 2028 presidential race.

A man casts his vote during parliamentary elections at a polling station in Nicosia, Cyprus May 24, 2026. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou
A woman casts her vote during parliamentary elections at a polling station in Nicosia, Cyprus May 24, 2026. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou

Overview

  • Final counts showed the center-right DISY remained largest with about 27.2% and 17 seats, AKEL took roughly 23.9% and 15 seats, and far-right ELAM rose to about 10.9% and eight seats.
  • Several centrist parties that backed Christodoulides lost ground or fell below the threshold, with DIKO reduced to eight seats and DIPA and EDEK failing to enter parliament.
  • Newcomer movements won representation, with Direct Democracy taking about 5.4% and four seats and Citizens for Cyprus winning about 5.8% and four seats as anti-establishment forces gained support.
  • Voter anger over corruption, rising living costs, housing and migration drove gains for insurgent and protest-style parties and eroded support for traditional centrists.
  • The more fragmented 56-seat House will make passing budgets and reforms harder and could reshape alliances ahead of 2028 while Cyprus holds the EU Council presidency through the end of June.