Supreme Constitutional Court to hear challenge over Nicosia parliamentary seat

The Supreme Constitutional Court of Cyprus, acting as an Electoral Court, has scheduled the first hearing for September 16, 2026, regarding an election petition filed by Anastasia Anthousi. The petition challenges the official result for the seventh parliamentary seat in the Nicosia district, which was awarded to ELAM by a margin of only five votes. The dispute centers on the accuracy of the vote count at a polling station in the village of Nikitari, where a recount resulted in the seat shifting from DISY to ELAM.

During the initial hearing, both parties will be required to define mutually accepted facts to expedite the proceedings. Legal experts cited in media reports suggest that if a consensus on these facts cannot be reached, the court will proceed with a full examination of evidence. Due to the narrow scope of the challenge, it is expected that a final decision will be reached by the end of 2026. This case is considered significant as the shift of even a few votes in the Nicosia district has had a decisive impact on the nationwide distribution of parliamentary seats.