Centre-right candidate Anastasiades wins second round of Cyprus presidential election
Nicos Anastasiades, a 66-year-old centre-right leader, won the second round of presidential elections in Cyprus on February 24 2013 with about 57.5 per cent of the vote, defeating communist-backed Stavros Malas.
Anastasiades favours a quick deal with foreign creditors, while Malas is more wary of the harsh austerity measures that are usually imposed in exchange for a rescue loan, the Voice of America reported.
Cyprus has been caught in a financial crisis aggravated by the situation in Greece.
The government is seeking international help because Cypriot banks suffered huge losses from Greece’s sovereign debt restructuring. The island, which has been shut out of international financial markets since May 2011, needs about $22 billion in aid, VOA said.
(Photo: European Peoples Party)
