Women account for 29.7% of candidates standing in Cyprus’s May 24 parliamentary elections, with 224 female candidacies submitted against 529 male candidacies, even as the total number of candidacies reached a record high — 100 more than at the previous parliamentary elections.
The figure marks an increase on the 24.31% recorded in 2021, when 160 of 651 total candidates were women, and on the 21.9% recorded in 2016, when 108 of 493 candidates were women.
Several parties have introduced quotas to encourage greater female participation in politics, but numbers remain relatively low despite those measures.
Among the parties, Alma – Citizens for Cyprus fields the most female candidates with 25, followed by the Movement of Ecologists – Citizens’ Cooperation with 24, Volt Cyprus with 22, and AKEL – Social Alliance with 21.
Gender Equality Commissioner: women still under-represented
Gender Equality Commissioner Josie Christodoulou said the 29.7% figure on the ballots demonstrates “once again the deficit of equal participation of women in the political life of our country,” noting that women make up 50% of the population.
The Commissioner said equal representation of women in the legislature is a basic prerequisite for the enactment of laws that reflect the real needs of the whole of society.
“Within the framework of contacts we held — together with women’s organisations of the National Mechanism for Women’s Rights — with leaders and representatives of parliamentary parties on the issue of greater participation of women on the ballots, we highlighted the need for specific measures to encourage and substantively support the participation of women in politics, particularly in electable positions,” she said.
She added that “the percentages of women and men candidates in the upcoming elections do not yet meet the needs and expectations of our society,” as women continue to be under-represented.
Christodoulou said she hopes the picture will change through the verdict of citizens and that the new parliament will have increased female representation, reflecting the composition and needs of society.
“Equality of women and men is not a choice, it is a social imperative. And it is the responsibility of all of us to fulfil it,” she said.
Female candidates by party — May 24 parliamentary elections
AGRONOMOS
Olena Varenyuk-Neocleous (Nicosia), Iulia Vlasova (Limassol), Maria Ellina (Limassol), Victoria Katsounotou (Limassol), Melina Kyriakou (Limassol), Marina Prousakova (Larnaca), Natalia Michaelidou (Pafos), Nicoletta Mandriti (Famagusta)
AKEL – SOCIAL ALLIANCE
Marina Andreou (Nicosia), Eleni Evagorou (Nicosia), Christina Konstantinou (Nicosia), Marilena Trimithiotis (Nicosia), Andri Chatziandreous (Nicosia), Avgi Chatzipavlou-Liasi (Nicosia), Konstantina Chrysanthou (Nicosia), Ioanna Chrysovitsiotis (Nicosia), Argentoula Ioannou (Limassol), Foteini Michaelidou-Christou (Limassol), Marina Nikolaou (Limassol), Melanie Steliou-Nikolaou (Limassol), Danae Christou (Limassol), Eleni Tzioni (Larnaca), Foteini Charalambous (Larnaca), Polina Christodoulou (Larnaca), Mariella Theofanous (Pafos), Anastasia Gerolenou (Famagusta), Konstantina Paraskeva (Famagusta), Nicoletta Sofocleous (Famagusta), Anastasia Chassikou (Kyrenia)
FAR-LEFT RESISTANCE COMMUNISM
Celestina De Petro
ALMA – CITIZENS FOR CYPRUS
Ioanna Vasiliou (Nicosia), Styliani Ilia (Nicosia), Christina Ioannou (Nicosia), Androulla Kaminara (Nicosia), Paraskevi-Voula Kokkinou (Nicosia), Anastasia Kyprianou (Nicosia), Stavria Panayidou (Nicosia), Georgia-Yioula Pitsialli (Nicosia), Eirini Charalambidou (Nicosia), Borka Grozdanovska (Limassol), Neofyta Evangelou (Limassol), Paraskevi-Skevi Papamiltiadous (Limassol), Stella Symeou (Limassol), Maria Loizou (Larnaca), Maria Pelivanidis (Larnaca), Konstantina Plysi (Larnaca), Ellada Kalaitsidou (Pafos), Theodoultisa-Litsa Drousiotou (Famagusta), Maria Theristi (Famagusta), Olga Kesidis (Famagusta), Angela Malaktou (Famagusta), Maria Filippou (Famagusta), Lianna Fotiadis (Famagusta), Katerina Paparadamanthou (Kyrenia), Niki-Nicoletta Christodoulou (Kyrenia)
DIRECT DEMOCRACY CYPRUS
Marina Georgiou (Nicosia), Elena Mitella (Nicosia), Monica Sofocleous (Nicosia), Kleoniki Ioannou (Nicosia), Maria Loizou (Limassol), Dimitra Chatzistaurou (Limassol), Nektaria Konstantinidou (Larnaca), Georgia Petrou (Larnaca), Diana Lucia Konstantinidou (Famagusta), Eleni Menelaou (Famagusta)
VOLT CYPRUS
Alexandra Attalidou (Nicosia), Sofia Vasiliou (Nicosia), Rodoula Demetriiadou-Christodoulidou (Nicosia), Despoina Theocharidou (Nicosia), Efi Xanthou (Nicosia), Andromachi Sofocleous (Nicosia), Andri Christoudia-Gkoumouskkout (Nicosia), Penelope Vaskes-Chatzillyra (Limassol), Melina Limnati (Limassol), Pandora Nikolaidou-Spivak (Limassol), Foni Onoufrious-Christodoulou (Limassol), Maria Skenter (Limassol), Niki Christofi (Limassol), Margarita Georgiadou (Larnaca), Anna Lisenko (Larnaca), Despo Pavlou (Pafos), Anna Stylianidou (Pafos), Panayiota Auxentiou-Ioanniidou (Famagusta), Ioli Paraliki-Kythraiotis (Famagusta), Natasa Ioannou (Kyrenia), Vassiliki-Silia Macpherson-Potoudis (Kyrenia), Spyroula Mavrommati (Kyrenia)
DEMOCRATIC CHANGE
Angeliki Agathocleous (Limassol), Marina Sourolla (Famagusta)
DEMOCRATIC ALIGNMENT (DIPA) – COOPERATION OF DEMOCRATIC FORCES
Elena Abrahamidou (Nicosia), Elena Vrachimi (Nicosia), Anna Kyprianou (Nicosia), Kyproula Kyprianou-Chatzisylli (Nicosia), Konstantina Konstantinou (Nicosia), Thea Nikolaou (Nicosia), Eleni Chrysostomou (Nicosia), Eleni Achilleos (Limassol), Charia Vasiliou (Limassol), Iliana Kleanthou (Limassol), Despoina Xenitidou (Larnaca), Despoina-Despo Papadopoulou (Larnaca), Kyriaki Mavraki (Pafos), Charoula Charillaou (Pafos), Zambela Ttakka (Famagusta), Polina Solomou (Kyrenia)
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL MOVEMENT (DEK)
Eleni Koliou (Nicosia), Eleni Paparistotelous (Nicosia), Chrystalla Sismani (Nicosia), Eleni-Lena Michail (Larnaca), Natali Georgiou (Pafos), Kyriaki Kyriakou (Pafos), Marina Antoniou (Famagusta), Veronika Pavlidou (Famagusta), Eleni Christofi-Milert (Kyrenia)
DIKO
Christiana Erotokritou (Nicosia), Maria Kousoulou (Nicosia), Elena Papadopoulou (Nicosia), Andri Prodromou (Nicosia), Angeliki Savva-Panagi (Nicosia), Veronika Fouli (Nicosia), Antonia Fragkou (Nicosia), Areti Dimosthenous (Limassol), Evanthia-Evi Tolaki (Limassol), T. Georgia Stavrinopoulou (Larnaca), Natasa Ioannou (Pafos), Andri Konstantinidou (Pafos), Elena Efthymiou (Famagusta), Elena Kkone (Famagusta), Solia Pelagia (Famagusta), Adamantia Pieri (Famagusta)
DISY
Anastasia Anthousha (Nicosia), Elena Kousiou-Chatzidimitriou (Nicosia), Savia Orfanidou (Nicosia), Tina Pavlou (Nicosia), Angeliki Ralia (Limassol), Foteini Tsiridou (Limassol), Annita Demetriou (Larnaca), Stalo Voniati (Larnaca), Andrea Theologou-Manoli (Larnaca), Nicoletta Konstantinou (Pafos), Margarita Kaimaklioti (Famagusta), Rita Superman (Kyrenia)
EDEK – SOCIALIST PARTY
Eirini Antoniou (Nicosia), Christina Efstathiou (Nicosia), Kyriaki Manousakis (Nicosia), Mikaella Neofytou (Nicosia), Loukia Piki (Nicosia), Sofia Christodoulou (Nicosia), Andromachi Georgiou (Limassol), Demetra Demetriou (Limassol), Angela Neocleous (Limassol), Melina Stefanou (Pafos), Pantelitsa Giokka (Famagusta), Andri Demetriou-Steka (Famagusta), Rafaella Drousiotis (Famagusta), Alexia Iakovou (Famagusta)
ELAM – NATIONAL POPULAR FRONT
Christina-Tina Agapiou (Nicosia), Roula Georgiadou (Nicosia), Androulla-Andri Dionysiou (Nicosia), Elisavet-Liza Kemitzi (Nicosia), Lefki Stylianou (Nicosia), Nataly Glyky (Limassol), Efthymia-Efi Meferi (Limassol), Maria Pastella (Limassol), Andri Christodoulou (Larnaca), Kallistheni Gavriil (Famagusta), Zafeiro Kastanou (Famagusta), Maria Korytsa (Famagusta), Nefeli Kourti (Famagusta), Polyxeni-Pola Vasiliou (Kyrenia)
ACTIVE CITIZENS – MOVEMENT OF UNITED CYPRIOT HUNTERS
Georgia Konstantinidou (Nicosia), Christina Menelaou (Nicosia), Tonia Ioannou (Nicosia), Dafni Sokratous (Limassol), Irakleia Irakleous (Larnaca), Androulla-Toulla Nathanail (Larnaca), Zoi Kalli (Famagusta), Annita Lili (Famagusta)
MOVEMENT OF ECOLOGISTS – CITIZENS’ COOPERATION
Stavroula Demetriou (Nicosia), Maria Kola (Nicosia), Nicoletta Louka (Nicosia), Elena Lympouri-Kozakou (Nicosia), Stella Petridou (Nicosia), Alexia Sakadaki (Nicosia), Maria Triantafyllidou (Nicosia), Aikaterini-Katerina Chatzistyli (Nicosia), Virginia Christou (Nicosia), Maria Diamantidou (Limassol), Olga Korombintseva (Limassol), Maria Kridi (Limassol), Monica Pieridou (Limassol), Katerina Violari (Larnaca), Alexia Nikolaou-Patata (Larnaca), Loiza Paraschou (Larnaca), Eirini Andreou-Tamenou (Pafos), Bissara Houssein (Pafos), Chryso Michail (Famagusta), Parousia Panagi (Famagusta), Chryso Savva (Famagusta), Evanthi-Evi Stavri-Chatziyianni (Famagusta), Myriana Christou (Famagusta), Stalo Fourukla (Kyrenia)
PATRIOTIC FRONT LACEDEMONIANS
Maria Afantiti (Nicosia), Maria Chatzichristoforu (Nicosia), Marianna Athanasiou (Limassol), Konstantina Papageorgiou (Famagusta), Alexandra-Alexia Chatzichristoforu (Larnaca)
SIKOU PANO
Kyproulla Kyprianou (Nicosia), Georgia Lamprianidou (Nicosia), Ramona Philip-Tornaritou (Nicosia), Nelli Loutsiou (Limassol), Anna Frageskidou (Limassol), Lysimachi Christodoulou (Limassol), Elen Christou (Limassol), Anna Homenko (Larnaca), Ioanna Yiannakos (Pafos), Zina Vardaki (Famagusta), Despo Panayiotou (Famagusta), Polina Iosif (Kyrenia)
GREEN PARTY OF CYPRUS
Maria Theodosiadou (Nicosia), Apollonia Leventi (Nicosia), Theognosia Theodorou (Pafos)
INDEPENDENTS
Ifigenia Katchie (Nicosia)
LATIN RELIGIOUS GROUP
Antonella Lydia Mantovani
