The Silent Electoral Earthquake in Cyprus: A Crisis of Political Representation

Abstract

ABSTRACT The 2021 legislative elections exacerbated the crisis of political representation in the Republic of Cyprus, with important changes in voter behaviour yet to materialise in party systemic change. Corruption and, to a lesser extent, the pandemic dominated the political campaign and added to voter disaffection with traditional political parties, including the opposition. The growing appetite for political protest was largely scattered among various new parties and platforms, which failed to win electoral representation. Traditional parties scored their worst results ever and the far-right ELAM nearly doubled its electorate, while abstention stabilised at record high levels.