2003 Cypriot presidential election

none Cyprus Flag of Cyprus (1960–2006).svg presidential 2003 Cypriot presidential election 1998 Cypriot presidential election 1998 2008 Cypriot presidential election 2008 16 February 2003 130x130px Visit of Tassos Papadopoulos, President of Cyprus, to the EC (P-011163 00-02).jpg Tassos Papadopoulos Democratic Party (Cyprus) 213,353 51.51% Glafcos Clerides, 1993.jpg Glafcos Clerides Democratic Rally 160,724 38.80% Alecos Markides Independent 3x4.svg 27,404 6.62% 2003 Cypriot presidential election - Results by district.svg Results by district President Elected President Glafcos Clerides Democratic Rally Tassos Papadopoulos Democratic Party (Cyprus) Presidential elections were held in Cyprus on 16 February 2003. The election campaign was dominated by the ongoing negotiations over the Annan Plan for Cyprus. Incumbent President Glafcos Clerides was largely in favour of the plan, while leading opposition candidate Tassos Papadopoulos wanted substantial amendments before he would accept it. Papadopoulos in the first round with 52% of the vote. Voter turnout was 91%.Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p447 978-3-8329-5609-7 Candidates On 3 January 2003 the incumbent President Glafcos Clerides said that he would be standing for re-election in the upcoming presidential election, after previously saying he would not stand again. Michael Jansen Cypriot President seeking 16-month limited mandate The Irish Times 9 2003-01-04 https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2625291.stm Cyprus president seeks re-election 28 May 2009 2003-01-03 BBC Online Clerides, from the Democratic Rally party, had been elected in 1993 and 1998 and called for Cypriots to elect him for a further limited 16 months as president to give him time to try to reach a deal with Turkish Northern Cyprus on reunifying the island. He wanted other candidates to unite behind him and agree to form a national unity government to try to reach a settlement; however, this was not agreed to by his opponents. Clerides' main opponent was expected to be Tassos Papadopoulos, leader of the Democratic Party. Cyprus poll confusion may hit UN unity plan: Challenge to president by attorney-general could split ruling party in the south Financial Times 5 2003-01-06 Papadopoulos was seen as being more hardline in negotiations with the Turkish Cypriots and had previously accused Clerides of selling out the interests of Greek Cypriots in negotiations. Poll frontrunner sheds tough image on Cyprus: Spotlight falls on the island's peace deal in Sunday's election, write Kerin Hope and Andreas Hadjipapas Financial Times 9 2003-02-14 Papadopoulos was backed by the biggest party in Cyprus, the communist Progressive Party of Working People and had been clear favourite in the election until Clerides announced he would stand again. Clerides' campaign was hurt by the decision of his close aide and attorney general Alecos Markides to also stand in the election as an independent. Nervous in Nicosia: Cyprus may never have a better chance of a deal Financial Times 16 10 January 2003 Markides was standing as he believed Cyprus needed a younger, more modern, leader than the 83-year-old Clerides. Tabitha Morgan Defeat for Clerides clouds Cyprus deal The Daily Telegraph 12 2003-02-17 His candidacy however was seen as likely to split the support of centre-right voters and thus assist Papadopoulos in the election. A further seven candidates stood in the election including one, Costas Kyriacou, calling for free love. 10 candidates for Cyprus presidency The Irish Times 13 18 January 2003 http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=29&art_id=qw1147771620203S313 Poll candidate champions free love in Cyprus 28 May 2009 16 May 2006 The Independent http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100002_18/01/2003_25385 Cypriots speed up talks 28 May 2009 18 January 2003 Kathimerini Campaign Opinion polls during the campaign showed Papadopoulos with a significant lead over Clerides. Search for national symbols to unite Cyprus Financial Times 10 2003-01-24 The ongoing negotiations over the Annan Plan for Cyprus dominated the campaign with Clerides being seen as more favourable to the plan than many voters and this contributed to the more sceptical Papadopoulos pulling ahead. Jonathan Steele UN calls for a flag to unite Cyprus The Guardian 17 2003-01-28 Papadopoulos called for the Annan plan to be amended and said that Clerides was giving away too much in negotiations. Greek Cypriot opposition leader sweeps to shock election victory The Scotsman 11 2003-02-17 However Papadopoulos emphasized that he would negotiate for a deal if he was elected and ran television adverts which attempted to reduce voter concerns over his previous nationalist stance. The election campaign was low key with Clerides refusing to campaign for the election. On the day before the election the final polls showed Papadopoulos with a 12% lead over Clerides, with a reasonable chance of winning over 50% of the vote and avoiding the need for a second round. Helena Smith Election holds key to peace in Cyprus: Defeat of veteran leader may threaten reunification moves The Guardian 18 2003-02-15 Results The results saw Papadopoulos winning over 51% of the vote compared to almost 39% for Clerides, meaning that he was elected in the first round. Michael Theodoulou Opposition leader wins race for Greek Cypriot presidency The Times 16 2003-02-17 Markides trailed in third place with 6.6% of the vote, Defeat of Clerides clouds hopes for Cyprus agreement GREEK CYPRIOT ELECTION UNEXPECTEDLY EASY VICTORY FOR PAPADOPOULOS Financial Times 7 2003-02-17 while Kyriakou won 0.44% but claimed that he really won 73%. Voting was compulsory and so voter turnout was high Michael Jansen Opposition victorious in Cyprus election The Irish Times 7 2003-02-17 at over 90%. The leader of Turkish North Cyprus Rauf Denktaş described the result as disappointing but Papadopoulos said he would begin talks on the United Nations plan within a few days of the election. https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2771825.stm New Cypriot leader 'eager' for talks 2009-05-28 2003-02-18 BBC Online Tassos Papadopoulos Democratic Party 213353 Glafcos Clerides Democratic Rally 160724 Alecos Markides Independent 27404 Nicos Koutsou New Horizons 8771 Costas Kyriacou Independent 1840 Andreas Efstratiou Independent 606 Adamos Katsantonis Independent 558 Christos Iosifides Independent 391 Georgios Mavrogenis Independent 337 Pantelis Sofokleous Independent 209 17497 476758 MOI References Category:Presidential elections in Cyprus Cyprus Presidential President Presidential election Cyprus