Little enthusiasm for contenders in presidential poll

WITH just seven months to go to the presidential elections, 50 per cent of the public remains lukewarm about the contenders for the top job, a poll has shown.

In a survey carried out by RAI Consultants, and commissioned by the Stockwatch news service, 51 per cent of respondents said they were "not so satisfied" or "not at all satisfied" with the presidential candidates that have come forth so far.

Respondents were also asked to rate (on a scale of 1 to 10) the three contenders: AKEL nominee and current Health Minister Stavros Malas, DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades and independent candidate Giorgos Lillikas.

It was a tie between Malas and Lillikas, who both scored 4.5 Anastassiades got the highest rating with 5.7.

For the first time in a Cypriot poll, respondents also were asked whether the next president should be a politician or a technocrat. Fifty-one percent preferred a politician, and 41 per cent said a technocrat should be running the country.

The poll also gauged perceptions toward other public figures for the job of president of the Republic: Popular Bank CEO and former Finance Minister Michalis Sarris scored 4.1 out of 10; former University of Cyprus rector Stavros Zenios got 4.7, Hellenic Bank CEO Makis Keravnos 5; former Finance Minister Christos Mavrellis 4; and former head of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Manthos Mavrommatis 3.7.

The survey was conducted from 2 to 5 July, with a sample of 807 respondents aged over 18 from across the island.