Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades has won a second term in office after defeating a leftist challenger in Sunday’s election.
The conservative Anastasiades got 56 percent, while his challenger Stavros Malas secured 44 percent of the vote after a second round run-off.
Apathy has been on the rise after a lacklustre campaign — especially among young voters — and the final official turnout stood at 73 percent.
Jubilant supporters of Anastasiades began to gather at the inauguration venue in Nicosia ahead of a swearing-in ceremony.
“I was confidant because people could see all he has done during the past five years and see that he is the man the country needs,” lawyer Christina Zikkou told AFP.
Defeated Malas said the result was “disappointing but we have to accept it”.
“The struggle for social justice and the Cyprus problem does not end with these elections…our fight is not lost,” he said.
