An old cleavage causes new divisions: parliamentary elections in the Republic of Cyprus, 21 May 2006

Abstract:

The change of government in 2003 and the 2004 referendum on the Annan Plan influenced the outcome of the 2006 parliamentary elections. A long-standing cleavage based on choices for a solution to the Cyprus issue surfaced in 2004 and caused deep divisions and a large swing vote, triggering realignment of the electorate. However, resistance by the two major parties, which countered by promoting the left-right cleavage and party loyalty, curtailed the impact of the new divisions. This election, marking a crystallization of the post-referendum electoral realignment, showed that urban centres emerged more fragmented, while highly polarized large rural centres resisted change.