The Cyprus Mail notes that the Green Party has included a Turkish Cypriot on the ballot for May’s elections to the EU parliament in Strasbourg. This introduces yet one more anomaly to the already unique Cypriot political scene. Introduces it to me, that is. There is already a Turkish Cypriot Member of the European Parliament, Niyazi Kızılyürek, elected under the AKEL Party banner.
“Turkish Cypriots are regarded as EU citizens by virtue of the Greek Cypriot side’s accession to the bloc in 2004, meaning they have the right to vote in the European elections and be elected as MEPs. However, they can only cast their vote at a limited number of special polling stations set up by the Greek Cypriot authorities on the southern side of the island’s border.” [Cyprus Mail].
Would be MEPs are required to register with the South’s Central Electoral Service to be included on the ballot. And, for what it’s worth, do not have the blessing of political parties in the North. So the plot grows ever thicker.