Runoff called in Cyprus election

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) – Cyprus heads into a runoff presidential election next weekend, with voters called on to select who will lead the country through a severe financial crisis after no candidate won an outright majority in Sunday’s vote.

Nicos Anastasiades, a right-winger who presented himself as the most capable to negotiate a bailout with Cyprus’ European partners and who went into the election a strong favourite, won the first round with just over 45 per cent of the vote. But he fell short of the 50 per cent plus one vote needed for an outright victory.

In the February 24 runoff, he will face Stavros Malas, a left-winger who has advocated being more assertive in negotiations for bailout loans to limit the severity of austerity measures they require.

Final results Sunday night showed Anastasiades winning 45.46 per cent, well ahead of Malas’ 26.91. Independent Giorgos Lallikas was a close third with 24.93 per cent, and was eliminated from the running.

The change in leadership, after unpopular President Dimitris Christofias said he would not seek re-election, comes at a crucial juncture for Cyprus. The other 16 countries that use the euro are expected to decide next month on a financial lifeline for the tiny country of less than a million people.