The Ministry of Interior has set a schedule for the Presidential Elections of February 2013, said Monday Chief of Central Electoral Service Demetris Demetriou.
The election is set for February 17, followed by a run off on February 24, if no candidate is elected from the first round. The main presidential hopefuls are main opposition Democratic Rally President (DISY) Nikos Anastasiades, Former Minister of Health Stavros Malas, backed by the ruling AKEL party and Former Minister of Commerce and Foreign Affairs in the period 2003-2006 Giorgos Lillikas, running as independent.
Demetriou told CNA that on January 4, the elections will be announced in the official state gazette by order of the Interior Minister Eleni Mavrou, and on the same day the Chief Returning officer and other election officers will be appointed.
Chief Returning Officer is expected to be the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Andreas Assiotis.
On January 11 the date and place for submitting nominations will be announced. Candidacies will be submitted on January 18.
On February 8 the polling stations and the distribution of voters to electoral districts will be made public.
Presidential elections in Cyprus are held every five years. All citizens over the age of 18 have the right to vote in elections.