An old cleavage causes new divisions: Parliamentary elections in the Republic of Cyprus, 21 May 2006

The change of government in 2003 and the 2004 referendum on the Annan Plan influenced the outcome of the 2006 parliamentary elections. A long-standing cleavage based on choices for a solution to the Cyprus issue surfaced in 2004 and caused deep divisions and a large swing vote, triggering realignment of the electorate. However, resistance by the two major parties, which countered by promoting the left-right cleavage and party loyalty, curtailed the impact of the new divisions. This election, marking a crystallization of the post-referendum electoral realignment, showed that urban centres emerged more fragmented, while highly polarized large rural centres resisted change.