Never before have municipal elections sparked such interest.
At least from the candidates’ side, as voter interest is expected to be disproportionately smaller. However, in recent days, there have been reports of increased and peculiar activity among voters.
Twenty thousand voters remembered that they had the wrong address registered in the electoral rolls (and for exercising their voting rights). And they decided at the last minute to update their details, a fact that aroused suspicions.
Suspicions that seem justified, as in some cases it became apparent that the new address is either just a warehouse or simply a field. Thus, around 3500 objections arose, and election officials are rushing, trying to cope.
But that’s not the only oddity of these elections, otherwise completely indifferent to the majority. For the first time as well, there are so many “independent” candidates.
To a degree that it creates confusion among traditional voters who have always voted for their party. Now, based on what compass should they navigate? Candidates declare themselves independent (not like in the past when they hid the newspaper they read to conceal their views. This is a new syndrome. Until analyzed by experts, let’s call it the mishmash syndrome).
And the directions of the parties (especially those of the so-called centre) are a mishmash. A little right, a little left, a little this, a little that, so that all tastes are covered.
Right in Paphos, left in Larnaca, rock in Mesa Geitonia, pop in Agios Athanasios, eclectic in Lakatamia, and a jumble in Strovolos, clothes all mixed up and turned pink. Everything goes with everything.
This could be positive if the candidates were truly independent. Independent from parties, from the interests of economic factors, from commitments that need to be fulfilled, and letters that need to be paid off, without aspirations for the future.
If local government wasn’t the first step of a political career. So many posters on the streets, banners, leaflets, and cards in grocery stores and hair salons for a municipal council position; do they aim to upgrade our places and our quality of life? So much investment for our sake?
At the same time, we, the silent voters, will be called upon to choose Members of the European Parliament. And independence ends there.
Each of us must return to our fold by choosing traditionally, with party criteria. A split of personality, shall we say, a bipolar disorder?
