Incumbent Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades was the top finisher on Sunday’s first round of presidential elections, but failed to garner a majority of votes needed to avoid a runoff.

The conservative leader will face Stavros Malas, an independent candidate backed by Communist party AKEL, in a runoff on Feb. 4. Mr. Anastasiades was leading all the opinion polls in the run-up to the vote. He said that this second 5-year term in office would be his last if he is re-elected. </s> NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — The Latest on the presidential election in Cyprus: (all times local):

Incumbent Nicos Anastasiades has defeated challenger Stavros Malas by a significant margin in Cyprus' presidential election.

State-run broadcaster RIK said Malas telephoned Anastasiades about an hour after polls closed to concede defeat.

With nearly all votes from Sunday's runoff election counted, Anastasiades had a 12-point lead over Malas.

It's the second time in a row that Anastasiades, a conservative veteran politician, has defeated the left-leaning Malas in a head-to-head face for president..

Anastasiades' supporters in the capital, Nicosia, celebrated by honking car horns.

An exit poll predicts that Cyprus' conservative president has been re-elected to another five-year term, defeating a left-leaning independent for the second time.

The poll by state-run broadcaster RIK showed President Nicos Anastasiades receiving 54.5-59.5 percent of the vote in Sunday's election, compared with 40.5-45.5 percent for Stavros Malas.

The polling is consistent with earlier opinion polls that had Anastasiades winning. But Malas' rising momentum in recent weeks showed him closing the gap with the incumbent.

Anastasiades, who is 71, says a second term will be his last. He has appealed to voters to trust his experience to keep the economy growing while pursuing a reunification deal with the island nation's breakaway Turkish Cypriots.

The 50-year-old Malas, who's backed by the communist-rooted AKEL party says he represents change amid a tired political system that short-changes ordinary Cypriots

A key variable in the second round of Cyprus' presidential election is what voters who supported neither candidate in the first round will do.

More than one-third of the first-round votes went to candidates other than incumbent President Nicos Anastasiades or independent Stavros Malas — and nearly 28 percent of the eligible 551,000 voters didn't cast ballots.

Many of the votes two weeks ago went to center-right DIKO party leader Nicholas Papadopoulos.

Papadopoulos took a tougher stance on reunification talks with breakaway Turkish Cypriots, accusing both Anastasiades and Malas of a willingness to make too many concessions.

DIKO and smaller parties that supported Papadopoulos' candidacy decided not to endorse either runoff candidate.

A conservative veteran is taking on a left-leaning independent in Cyprus' presidential runoff amid questions whether an agreement reunifying the ethnically divided island-nation can be found anytime soon.

The choice for some 551,000 eligible voters Sunday will also depend on which candidate they feel has made the most convincing pitch to deliver more benefits from a rebounding economy.

It's the second time incumbent President Nicos Anastasiades faces off against independent Stavros Malas in a runoff.

Earlier opinion polls have shown Anastasiades handily beating Malas, but the independent's strong showing in the first round could make it a closer race.

Anastasiades says Cyprus needs more of his experienced leadership to stay the course. Malas says change is needed to raise the standard of living.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. </s> Incumbent Nicos Anastasiades has defeated challenger Stavros Malas by a significant margin in Cyprus’ presidential election.

State-run broadcaster RIK said Mr Malas telephoned Mr Anastasiades about an hour after polls closed to concede defeat.

With nearly all votes from Sunday’s run-off election counted, Mr Anastasiades had a 12-point lead over Mr Malas.

It is the second time in a row that Mr Anastasiades, a conservative veteran politician, has defeated left-leaning Mr Malas in a head-to-head race for president.

Mr Anastasiades’ supporters in the capital Nicosia celebrated by honking car horns. </s> Incumbent Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades defeated leftist challenger Stavros Malas and won another five-year term in a run-off election on Sunday.

The 71-year-old conservative won 55.9 percent of the vote with 95 percent of votes counted. Malas conceded an hour after the polls closed, Reuters reported. Malas, a 50-year-old geneticist who served as the republic's health minister in the former left-wing administration, had also come ran against Anastasiades in 2013.

But the suspense was tight. The office of the president of Cyprus is elected using a two-round voting system, and a first round saw Anastasiades win an inconclusive 34 percent of the vote and Malas win an unexpected 29 percent percent of the vote.

With all second round votes counted, Anastasiades won 56 percent of the vote against Malas' 44 percent.

The island in the Mediterranean has been divided since 1974, when "Turkish troops invaded following a Greek-backed coup," as NPR's Michele Kelemen has reported. The Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities are separated by a U.N. buffer zone, and "many attempts to reunite the island have failed."

The vote took place barely seven months after the latest round of peace talks ended abruptly.

Anastasiades steered the Cyprus' economy to recovery after a 2013 financial crisis, and has pledged to seek the resumption of U.N.-mediated peace talks.

"A new era begins tomorrow," Anastasiades told supporters outside of his election campaign headquarters, reported Al Jazeera. "People demand cooperation and unity because this is the only way to solve the problems we're facing." </s> NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — The Latest on the presidential election in Cyprus: (all times local):

An exit poll predicts that Cyprus' conservative president has been re-elected to another five-year term, defeating a left-leaning independent for the second time.

The poll by state-run broadcaster RIK showed President Nicos Anastasiades receiving 54.5-59.5 percent of the vote in Sunday's election, compared with 40.5-45.5 percent for Stavros Malas.

The polling is consistent with earlier opinion polls that had Anastasiades winning. But Malas' rising momentum in recent weeks showed him closing the gap with the incumbent.

Anastasiades, who is 71, says a second term will be his last. He has appealed to voters to trust his experience to keep the economy growing while pursuing a reunification deal with the island nation's breakaway Turkish Cypriots.

The 50-year-old Malas, who's backed by the communist-rooted AKEL party says he represents change amid a tired political system that short-changes ordinary Cypriots

A key variable in the second round of Cyprus' presidential election is what voters who supported neither candidate in the first round will do.

More than one-third of the first-round votes went to candidates other than incumbent President Nicos Anastasiades or independent Stavros Malas — and nearly 28 percent of the eligible 551,000 voters didn't cast ballots.

Many of the votes two weeks ago went to center-right DIKO party leader Nicholas Papadopoulos.

Papadopoulos took a tougher stance on reunification talks with breakaway Turkish Cypriots, accusing both Anastasiades and Malas of a willingness to make too many concessions.

DIKO and smaller parties that supported Papadopoulos' candidacy decided not to endorse either runoff candidate.

A conservative veteran is taking on a left-leaning independent in Cyprus' presidential runoff amid questions whether an agreement reunifying the ethnically divided island-nation can be found anytime soon.

The choice for some 551,000 eligible voters Sunday will also depend on which candidate they feel has made the most convincing pitch to deliver more benefits from a rebounding economy.

It's the second time incumbent President Nicos Anastasiades faces off against independent Stavros Malas in a runoff.

Earlier opinion polls have shown Anastasiades handily beating Malas, but the independent's strong showing in the first round could make it a closer race.

Anastasiades says Cyprus needs more of his experienced leadership to stay the course. Malas says change is needed to raise the standard of living.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. </s> The race for president in Cyprus will go to a runoff vote after incumbent conservative Nicos Anastasiades won the first round but failed to muster an outright majority in a poll overshadowed by high abstention.

With all of the votes counted, Anastasiades on Sunday secured 35.5 percent, ahead of his closest rival Stavros Malas, an independent candidate backed by the left-wing AKEL party, on 30.2 percent.

Centrist Nicos Papadopoulos came third with 25.7 percent.

Ahead of the vote, opinion polls had suggested a tight race between Malas and Papadopoulos.

Anastasiades and Malas will now contest the runoff vote on Sunday, February 4, in a repeat of the last presidential elections in 2013.

 Supporters of Anastasiades waved Cypriot and Greek flags [Dimitris Sideridis/Al Jazeera]

 Jubilant scenes

At Anastasiades’s campaign headquarters in central Nicosia, supporters draped in Cypriot, Greek and party flags chanted slogans as their leader arrived.

“I’m here to express my gratitude for all your support, so that the people give us a clear mandate that will secure [our victory]next Sunday,” Anastasiades, 71, told the gathered crowd.

Christodoulos, a 26-year-old supporter of Anastasiades, said he was “very satisfied” with the result.

“I hope the same happens a week from now so that the country moves forward. We don’t want to return to the past,” he told Al Jazeera. “Young people want a modern and unified Cyprus.”

 Malas was greeted by hundreds of cheering supporters [Dimitris Sideridis/Al Jazeera]

But spirits were even higher a few kilometres further south, at Malas’s campaign headquarters, where hundreds of people of all ages couldn’t hide their enthusiasm.

“The people have spoken,” Malas, 50, told the cheering supporters waving Cypriot flags. “A new social majority is now expressing its will for a real, creative and hopeful change.”

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 All you need to know about Cyprus presidential election

“It’s a triumph,” he told Al Jazeera. “Malas, an independent candidate of the left, had five parties against him,” he added.

“If the right political moves are now made in order to convince the rest of the population, then he will be the next president.”

 Malas’s supporters flooded his election campaign headquarters [Dimitris Sideridis/Al Jazeera]

 ‘No vision’

Yet enthusiasm was less palpable outside the venues packed with party faithful.

Sunday’s vote was marked by a record low turnout: 28.1 percent, up 12 percentage points compared with the 2013 poll.

Christophoros Christophorou, a political analyst based in Nicosia, said the high abstention level signified that “the disengagement of voters had become structural” as frustration over empty promises and corruption grows.

“People also don’t see anything promising for the future in the candidates’ proposals,” he told Al Jazeera.

“There’s no vision – it’s promises and promises offered free of charge, meaning without budgeting and without politicians convincing people that it’s possible to realise what they are proposing.”

 Nine male candidates were standing in the presidential race [Dimitis Sideridis/Al Jazeera]

 All eyes on alliances

In all, nine male candidates were standing in the presidential race for the five-year presidency.

The top two contenders are now expected to enter frantic discussions to win over the candidates who were knocked out in round one.

“For one to make it to the presidential palace, they need [to form]an alliance in the second round,” said Christophorou.

This, he noted, could modify the frontrunners’ political platforms in a number of issues, including the long-running Cyprus problem.

A small Mediterranean island, Cyprus has been divided along ethnic lines since 1974, when Turkish troops seized its northern third in response to an Athens-inspired Greek Cypriot coup, aimed at uniting it with Greece.

Unsurprisingly, the presidential election campaign was dominated by the Cyprus problem, especially after the collapse of the latest round of peace talks in July 2017.

Both Anastasiades and Malas openly support a solution based on the principles of a bizonal, bicommunal federation (BBF). They say they will seek to revive negotiations if elected, in contrast to Papadopoulos who put forward a number of prerequisites and conditions during the election campaign.

Now, the runoff between Anastasiades and Malas “may mean the resumption of talks will not be delayed”, provided that the Turkish Cypriot side would also be willing to re-enter negotiations, said Christophorou.

“However, things will depend on what kind of alliances we will see,” he cautioned.

“This might influence their positions or their handling of the Cyprus issue.”

Another major issue topping voters’ concerns has been the state of the economy.

In March 2013, Cyprus reached a deal to secure an emergency international rescue package to shore up its ailing banking sector and avert financial meltdown.

It successfully concluded its multi-billion-dollar bailout programme three years later.

Malas has been criticised for being part of the AKEL 2008-2013 government which is blamed by many Cypriots for the economic malaise of recent years.

In a widely anticipated move, he is expected to announce who would be the finance minister in a cabinet formed by him by Wednesday. </s> The Latest on the presidential election in Cyprus: (all times local):

An exit poll predicts that Cyprus' conservative president has been re-elected to another five-year term, defeating a left-leaning independent for the second time.

The poll by state-run broadcaster RIK showed President Nicos Anastasiades receiving 54.5-59.5 percent of the vote in Sunday's election, compared with 40.5-45.5 percent for Stavros Malas.

The polling is consistent with earlier opinion polls that had Anastasiades winning. But Malas' rising momentum in recent weeks showed him closing the gap with the incumbent.

Anastasiades, who is 71, says a second term will be his last. He has appealed to voters to trust his experience to keep the economy growing while pursuing a reunification deal with the island nation's breakaway Turkish Cypriots.

The 50-year-old Malas, who's backed by the communist-rooted AKEL party says he represents change amid a tired political system that short-changes ordinary Cypriots

A key variable in the second round of Cyprus' presidential election is what voters who supported neither candidate in the first round will do.

More than one-third of the first-round votes went to candidates other than incumbent President Nicos Anastasiades or independent Stavros Malas — and nearly 28 percent of the eligible 551,000 voters didn't cast ballots.

Many of the votes two weeks ago went to center-right DIKO party leader Nicholas Papadopoulos.

Papadopoulos took a tougher stance on reunification talks with breakaway Turkish Cypriots, accusing both Anastasiades and Malas of a willingness to make too many concessions.

DIKO and smaller parties that supported Papadopoulos' candidacy decided not to endorse either runoff candidate.

A conservative veteran is taking on a left-leaning independent in Cyprus' presidential runoff amid questions whether an agreement reunifying the ethnically divided island-nation can be found anytime soon.

The choice for some 551,000 eligible voters Sunday will also depend on which candidate they feel has made the most convincing pitch to deliver more benefits from a rebounding economy.

It's the second time incumbent President Nicos Anastasiades faces off against independent Stavros Malas in a runoff.

Earlier opinion polls have shown Anastasiades handily beating Malas, but the independent's strong showing in the first round could make it a closer race.

Anastasiades says Cyprus needs more of his experienced leadership to stay the course. Malas says change is needed to raise the standard of living. </s> ATHENS (Reuters) - Incumbent Nicos Anastasiades was leading Cyprus’s presidential election on Sunday, exit polls showed, but is likely to fall short of an outright majority and face a run-off on Feb. 4.

An exit poll for public broadcaster CyBC put Anastasiades in the lead with between 38 percent and 42 percent of the vote, followed by left-wing independent Stavros Malas on 27-31 percent.

Centrist Nikolas Papadopoulos was seen taking between 21.5 percent and 24.5 percent of the vote. The poll was based on an 80 percent sample.

Other stations gave a mixed picture, suggesting the vote was too close to call.

The two leading candidates to emerge from Sunday’s election will have to seek support from the seven other candidates ahead of the Feb. 4 run-off vote. </s> Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades, supported by right-wing party Democratic Rally, and communist AKEL-backed Stavros Malas will contest the run-off of the presidential election on the island, after the first round on Sunday showed Malas performing better than expected.

 

 With 100 percent of the votes counted across the Republic of Cyprus, Anastasiades garnered 35.5 percent, Malas collected 30.24 percent, centrist DIKO president Nikolas Papadopoulos took 25.74 percent, far-right candidate Christos Christou had 5.65 percent and center-left Citizens' Alliance president Giorgos Lillikas got 2.18 percent.

 

 The second round of the election is scheduled for next Sunday, February 4.

 

 Turnout for the first round was unusually low for a presidential election, at around 72 percent, against 83 percent in the previous election five years ago. Observers said the turnout was reminiscent of a parliamentary election, not a presidential poll that traditionally has a greater participation.

 

 Opinion polls before the first round had shown that in case Anastasiades and Malas were to contest the second round, Anastasiades would win by a margin of more than 12 percentage points.

 

 On the Cyprus question both Anastasiades and Malas favor the resumption of talks with the Turkish side under the auspices of the United Nations, with an aim for a bizonal, bicommunal federation. The other three candidates were against such a solution.
Incumbent Nicos Anastasiades wins the first round of the election, but is well short of an absolute majority required to win outright. He will face his rival from the 2013 election, Stavros Malas, in the second round.