Cyprus sees nationalists gain in parliament vote

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades’s centre-right Disy party recorded its worst result in parliamentary elections in 40 years, as voters vented their frustration over the government’s handling of the country’s “golden passport” program.

With presidential elections due in 2023, support for Disy fell to 27.7% compared with 30.7% in the last vote in 2016, according to figures from the eastern Mediterranean island’s Interior Ministry, with 99.5% of votes counted.

Voters also punished the main opposition communist-rooted Akel party with its vote falling to 22.3% from 25.7% in 2016, an historic low. Centrist Diko came third; the far-right Elam doubled its support to go fourth, socialist Edek fifth, new moderate party Dipa sixth, and the Greens seventh.