Larnaca, Cyprus. Election billboards promoting Israeli prime ministerial candidate Gadi Eisenkot near Larnaca airport have prompted independent MEP Fidias Panayiotou to call for a ban on third countries conducting election campaigns in Cyprus.
Israeli campaign
The billboards form part of the campaign of Eisenkot, the leader of Israel’s Yashar party and a candidate for prime minister in Israel’s October 27 elections.
One sign states, “Israelis, enjoy! You deserve it,” while another, placed on the route back to the airport, says, “Come back and win!”
Eisenkot’s headquarters confirmed that the advertisements are an official element of its election strategy, intended to reach the significant number of Israelis holidaying in Cyprus.
Call for legislation
The signs sparked discussion on social media and in public debate over whether foreign political advertising should be allowed in Cyprus.
In a social media video, Panayiotou described the development as “particularly concerning” and said the advertisements indicated that campaign organisers considered the number of Israeli nationals in Cyprus sufficient to make such advertising worthwhile.
He questioned whether countries outside the European Union should be permitted to conduct election campaigns in Cyprus and called for legislative changes to prevent the practice.
“This is unacceptable,” he said, proposing a law to prohibit election campaigns by third countries in the government-controlled areas.
Current rules
A review of electoral legislation and official guidance does not identify a provision prohibiting a foreign political party from purchasing billboard advertising in Cyprus outside a local election period.
Existing electoral rules govern campaigns for elections held in Cyprus, while commercial billboards are generally subject to advertising and planning regulations.
