Diplomats battle it out in runoff for Cyprus' presidencyAn election official lifts a ballot box before they are distributed to polling stations, in Nicosia, Cyprus, Friday, Feb. 10, 2023. A youthful former foreign minister who campaigned as a unifier unconstrained by antiquated ideological and party lines will take on a veteran diplomat with broad voter appeal in a Feb. 12 runoff for the presidency of ethnically divided Cyprus. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)Original Publication Date February 11, 2023 - 11:46 PMNICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Polls opened Sunday in a runoff to elect ethnically split Cyprus’ new president, pitting a former foreign minister who campaigned as a unifier eschewing ideological and party divisions against a popular veteran diplomat. The DISY leadership decided not to formally back either candidate and left it to members to vote as they saw fit. The intense strife within the party prompted outgoing President and former DISY leader Nicos Anastasiades to call for the bickering to stop.
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