jordan pulse -

On Sunday, Cyprus is witnessing a second round of presidential elections, in which two diplomats are competing, each trying to convince undecided voters that he is the best option to rule this European Union member country.

Andreas Theofanos of the Cypriot Center for European and International Affairs said, "Some people go to the polls to vote for someone who is the least bad among the candidates, which is a feature in most elections, but it is more prominent in this election."

Former Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides, 49, faces diplomat Andreas Mavroyannis, 66, after a first round that took place at the end of last week.

Both try to prove their worth independently of their backing party.

The winner needs 50% plus one vote to succeed President Nicos Anastasiades, who ruled for two terms as the eighth president of the republic.

With the ruling conservative Democratic Rally "DISI" dropping out of the presidential race for the first time in its history, Anastasiades' decision not to support any of the candidates opened the second round wide open.

Former Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides won 32.04% of the vote in the first round, while Mavroyannis won 29.59% of the vote.

Christodoulides unexpectedly defeated the 61-year-old leader of "Dissi", Averof Neophyto, who came third with 26.11% of the vote, despite the support of Anastasiades.

Likewise, Mavroyannis, who is supported by the Communist Party (AKEL), surprised observers by defeating Neophyto, and canceled the difference separating him from Christodoulides, who is supported by centrist parties.

'Tense' competition

Christodoulides has a slight lead, Theophanos said, and may get the bulk of the votes of disgruntled "Dissi" supporters.

"With the division in 'Disie' and in society in general, it is still ahead, but the result will be closer than expected," he explained.

"Some (Desi supporters) will vote for Mavroyannis, but it will not be enough for him to win," he said.

Desi does not support any of the candidates and has announced that he is on the side of the opposition.

Neophyto felt betrayed by Christodoulides, a prominent member of Disi, who deviated from the will of the leadership to announce his candidacy instead of adhering to the party line.

For her part, said analyst Fiona Molin of the "Sabienta Economics" consultancy in Nicosia, that the competition may be "very intense".

"The leadership of 'Dissi' does not support any candidate officially, but it supports Mavroyannis informally," she added.

"Therefore, it will boil down to the ability to change the opinion of the party base, which will be closer to Christodoulides than to Mavroyannis," she added.

The negative attitude within the "Disii" towards him is considered the greatest threat to the victory of Christodoulides.

Mullen expressed her belief that Mavroyannis must convince voters that his supporter "Achil" will not lead economic policy if he wins the elections, as he holds the communists responsible for the financial crisis that hit the country in 2012 and led the island to seek a bailout from international donors in 2013.

economic pressures

Mavroyannis took an unusual step by choosing attorney Charalambos Prontzos, an expert in corporate law and the energy sector, as the future minister of finance, if he wins the presidential elections.

"That explains his choice of finance minister," Moline said.

"As a member of a Big Four auditing firm and a lawyer, Prontzos is closer to Desi's background than Akil's," she said.

Rooting out corruption and improving the economy are among the main issues for voters.

The new government will face pressure to tackle the crisis of high energy prices, labor disputes and a faltering economy amid a global recession.

The next president will have to resume the peace talks currently stalled on the island, which has been divided since Turkey attacked its northern third in 1974 in response to a coup carried out by nationalist Greek Cypriots who wanted to annex the country to Greece.

The Greek Cypriot government exercises its authority only over the southern part of the island, which separates a demilitarized zone under the supervision of the United Nations called the Green Line, between it and the unilaterally declared "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus", which is recognized only by Turkey.

Of the 561,273 people eligible to vote, 730 are Turkish Cypriots registered in the southern part of the island.

Also, there are 10,346 Cypriots abroad who have registered to vote.

Polling stations open at 7:00 am (05:00 GMT) with a break of one hour at noon. Voting ends at six in the evening.

"AFP"