Nicosia, Cyprus. Alma MP Irene Charalambides said on Wednesday that the party’s parliamentary election result was below expectations, stating she had anticipated 8 per cent support rather than the 5.8 per cent it secured. She also said larger parties’ mechanisms became more active in the final days before voting and affected the outcome.
Campaign spending
Speaking on Sigma TV, Charalambides said Alma’s campaign was conducted with minimal spending and without the large-scale promotional activity traditionally associated with election campaigns.
She said the movement had deliberately pursued an economical campaign and avoided practices such as extensive advertising and poster campaigns.
“Personally, I have only spent €160,” she said. “It was the printing of 2,000 cards.”
Role in the campaign
Charalambides said she maintained a close personal relationship with party leader Odysseas Michaelides and had intentionally limited her own public profile during the campaign to give newer candidates greater visibility.
House presidency vote
Addressing criticism over Alma’s decision to support Akel secretary-general Stefanos Stefanou for the House presidency, Charalambides rejected suggestions that she had broken with the party position.
“There was no such case,” she said. “The secretary-general is the symbol of the left. Therefore, after 15 years on the left, I have immense respect for those who have supported me over the years. There was no scenario where I could not have given my vote.”
Parliamentary reforms
Charalambides also commented on parliamentary reforms and committee structures following the election.
She reiterated her opposition to procedural changes approved during the final sitting of the previous parliament, arguing that one parliamentary term should not impose arrangements on its successor.