Paphos, Cyprus. A 105-year-old woman in Tala, Paphos, cast her ballot on Sunday, extending a lifelong pattern of electoral participation that began more than six decades ago. Argyri Achillea is widely regarded as the oldest voter in the Paphos district and has remained active in every election cycle.
Family attendance at polling station
Achillea, who lives in Tala, arrived at the polling station with her wider extended family. She told reporters that she had “voted many times in the past” and said her first experience of elections dated back to the 1959 presidential election contested between Archbishop Makarios and Ioannis Clerides.
Life and family background
Achillea is the mother of eight children, five sons and three daughters, and now has 23 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren and 23 great-great-grandchildren. She spent much of her life working in agriculture, including seasonal labour in carob fields, while also running a small cafe in Tala.
Family connection
She is also related through her mother’s side of the family to the British Cypriot musician formerly known as Cat Stevens, now Yusuf Islam.
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