NICOSIA – Conservative candidate Nicos Anastasiades won Cyprus’ presidency Sunday by one of the widest margins in 30 years, promising to do what it takes to quickly secure a financial rescue package from international creditors and prevent the country from sliding into economic oblivion.
Anastasiades, 66, won the runoff election with 57.48 percent of the vote, well ahead of his leftwing rival Stavros Malas, who nabbed only 42.51 percent of the vote, final results showed.
The election came as Cyprus is negotiating a much-needed bailout with the eurozone’s 16 other countries and the International Monetary Fund. The wide margin of victory in favor of Anastasiades indicates Cypriots are prepared, to a degree, to stomach what could be painful austerity measures attached to a bailout, as well as a snub to leftwing rule that many feel is responsible for the country’s sorry economic state.
Anastasiades, who will begin his five-year-term Friday, promised to create a government of “national unity” though it was unclear what its composition will be.
“My first priority is to reinstate Cyprus’ credibility,” Anastasiades said in a speech after his victory. “I’m determined to work together with our EU partners, and at the same time, fulfill our responsibilities to the utmost. I am committed to making all the necessary measures to steer our country out of the economic crisis.”
He added that he will move quickly to tap the country’s newfound offshore natural gas deposits and apply to NATO’s Partnership for Peace program, which allows for cooperation between the military alliance and nonmember countries.
Most Cypriots are aware that there is little option but to secure outside financial help — which will undoubtedly come with demands for public-sector spending cuts and other austerity measures — to end the uncertainty dragging down the economy. Cyprus has already enacted deep public-sector wage cuts and tax hikes under a preliminary bailout agreement.
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