Main opposition party AKEL presented on Saturday the six candidates who will be included in its ballot for the May 2019 European Parliament (EP) elections.

The six candidates are AKEL Larnaka MP Giorgos Georgiou, doctor Athos Georgiou, Turkish Cypriot academic Niyazi Kızılyürek, MEP Assistant Giorgos Koukoumas, political advisor at the European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) Marina Nicolaou and incumbent MEP Neoklis Sylikiotis.

Presenting the six candidates AKEL Secretary General Andros Kyprianou said the ballot is “bold and powerful” and includes candidates who “have the experience, knowledge and energy necessary to become the voice of the Cypriot people in Europe.”

Referring to the inclusion of a Turkish Cypriot in AKEL’s ballot for the first time he noted that Kızılyürek is not a member of the party but belongs to the left. “He shares with us the need to reach a solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of agreed principles and not only,” he noted.

“Reuniting our country, is a life goal for AKEL,” Kyprianou stressed.

European elections are set to take place in all EU countries from 23 to 26 May, 2019. Citizens casting their vote will choose the 705 members to represent them in the European Parliament until 2024.  In Cyprus the European elections will take place on May 26. Cyprus elects six MEPs.