A Paphos man whose name has become synonymous with election campaigns filed his 35th candidacy on Wednesday, standing once again as an independent candidate in the May 24 parliamentary elections.
Andreas Efstratiou has contested dozens of elections over the years, including presidential, parliamentary, European and municipal races, as well as local government elections. He said on Wednesday that this latest filing is his 35th candidacy overall.
“I am fighting for my homeland, for a better life, for large families, for the poor people who are always left on the margins,” Efstratiou said. “The poor have become poorer, the rich have become richer, and our politicians have become millionaires.”
Asked whether it bothers him that he has never been elected, Efstratiou was unperturbed. “I get elected every time,” he said. “You just don’t know it. Every day I am among the public, among my fellow citizens, and I thank them sincerely.”
Paphos returns five seats in the House of Representatives this election, one more than at the previous parliamentary vote, after the district gained a seat following growth in its voting population. Almost 750 candidacies were filed across the island on Wednesday.
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