NICOSIA - All is set for the island’s February 17 presidential elections in which a total of 11 runners are eyeing the top job, including two women. The budget is about €8 million.
This is what the Interior Ministry has said as state printers test-printed the ballot paper which is white in colour.
A total of 575,000 ballot papers will be printed with runners appearing in alphabetical order of the party supporting them. Or the name of the coalition of parties, or the last name of independent candidates.
The three main candidates are Opposition Disy leader Nicos Anastasiades, ruling Akel-backed Stavros Malas and independent former minister George Lillikas who has the support of socialist Edek.
Also running are former Minister of Commerce and Industry Praxoulla Antoniadou Kyriacou, Geogrios Charalambous of far-right Elam, Lakis Ioannou , Makaria Andri Stylianou, Andreas Efstratiou, Solon Gregoriou, Loukas Stavrou and Costas Kyriakou-Outopos.
If no candidate secures 50% plus on that Sunday, there will be a run off election exactly a week after - on the 24th.
Chief Returning Officer, Andreas Assiotis, the final results will be known at around 20.30 local time (18.30 GMT).