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- Ελληνικά
The former President of the Republic Mr. Nicos Anastasiades arrived today at polling station A', at Lanitio Lyceum, in Limassol, where he exercised his right to vote.
Subsequently, Mr Anastasiades answered questions from journalists.
Asked whether it was difficult to exercise the right to vote because of the many ballot papers, Mr Anastasiades said: "Not because of the many ballot papers, but because of the many worthy candidates nominated by the party. Therefore, in the multitude of candidates there was a choice that posed dilemmas sometimes with ease, sometimes with reflection."
He added that today "is another celebration of democracy, a celebration of Europe. What I want to call upon is the whole of the people. We are a European country with problems, which needs a strong presence and visibility of the problems that our particular country faces as part of the European Union. Therefore, abstention is an acceptance of refusal, if you like, to participate in the affairs of the European Union and the problems that countries face in general.
Asked whether he believes that abstention will be less, Anastasiades said: "I want to hope and I think it will be less than in other countries where it is only European elections. Euro elections are considered minor. It is wrong. They should be before and above the national elections."
Asked by a journalist how he feels about the first implementation today of the local government reform, the legislation of which was completed under his presidency, Mr. Anastasiades replied, "I want to hope that the implementation of the provisions of the reform and the possible corrections, which may arise from problems that could not have been foreseen, is something important for local communities, and I am sure that it will change the map of progress of Cyprus in general. Thank you very much."
(MGM)
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