Nicosia, Cyprus. The Dipa (Democratic Alignment) party said on Thursday it is being left out of opinion polls ahead of May’s parliamentary elections, arguing this skews published survey results.
Claim of exclusion from phone surveys
Loizos Constantinou, an adviser to Dipa leader Marios Garoyian, cited anecdotal evidence from people who said they participated in polls. He said some individuals complained that during telephone interviews Dipa was not included among the options offered.
Possible complaint and call for fair polling
Constantinou described the practice as “inconceivable” and said that if the party obtains hard evidence, it will file a formal complaint with the authorities. He said Dipa is not seeking preferential treatment but wants a fair, objective and scientific record of public opinion, adding that pollsters should do their job properly.
Concerns about influence and election outlook
Asked about motives, Constantinou said polls sometimes go beyond registering a snapshot of public sentiment and instead try to influence opinion. He said some quarters push the message that voting for smaller parties is “a lost vote.” Constantinou said Dipa is confident it will perform well in the May elections, adding that historically the party has done better in elections than reflected in polls.
Have you been contacted for a phone survey in which Dipa was not listed among the party options?
