The election of the eighth parliament of the Republic of Cyprus was held on 27 May 27 2001 in a climate shaped by the prospects of Cyprus’ accession to the European Union and the protracted deadlock in the talks for the resolution of the Cyprus Problem.
Opinion polls projected AKEL being ahead in voters’ preferences and the Democratic Rally expected to suffer significant losses. The election campaign started early in 2001 and revolved around issues connected with the country’s European course and internal affairs.
DISY focused its efforts on a confrontation clash with AKEL and in particular on suggesting to voters that the left wing party would cause problems in the European course of Cyprus. It sought to create a climate of polarization expecting to reduce and overcome the vote difference with AKEL suggested by opinion polls.
AKEL presented the negative side of government policies and actions with the slogan “you want, we can together manage to…”. The main topics of its election campaign were among other the need for meritocracy, for a better economy, better education and the fight against scandals.
DIKO projected a series of slogans, for young people, a better future, quality of life, education, enhancing the European perspective and more. His central motto was “vote for …”.
KISOS, which was the successor of EDEK since 2000, focused on efforts to differentiate itself from others, with the central slogan “We, anyway …”. The slogan was combined with individual issues such as corruption of the other political forces, implying that they had abusively benefited from the spoils of power, had changed their positions and colors “like chameleons”. KISOS claimed it was knowledgeable of Europe-related issues and promised to work hard for the public good.
Among the small parties, the Fighting Democratic Movement – ADIK, of the former minister and DIKO official Dinos Michaelides, accused the main parties of drawing advantage of transactions in the stock market at the expense of the people. It also promised to offering services to the people.
Finally, through its intensive effort, deployed in particular during the final phase of the campaign, with emphasis on personal contact, DISY managed to bridge the difference with AKEL, limiting it to less than a percentage point.
The main features of the election results were the emergence of AKEL as the first political force and the entry into Parliament, for the first time in the history of the Republic, of eight parties, four of which with only one MP.
AKEL occupied the first place, by increasing its vote share to 34.7%, its highest score ever; DISY suffered minor losses and received 34.0%, DIKO and KISOS slipped further down compared to the 1996 elections, and secured 15.8% and 6.5% respectively. The small parties received: EDI 2.6%, New Horizons 3.0%, ADIK 2.2% and Ecologists 2.0%. AKEL occupied the highest number of seats in the House, with 20 MPs, DISY was second with 19, DIKO had nine, EDEK four and EDI, New Horizons, Ecologists and ADIK one MP each.
Of particular importance is the election by the new deputies of the Secretary General of AKEL, Demetris Christofias as President of the House of Representatives, with the votes of his party, of DIKO and EDEK. For the first time, an AKEL executive assumes office at this level. The occupant of this office assumes the duties of Acting President of the Republic when the chief of the State is absent.