NICOSIA, Cyprus — Cyprus’ election will go into a runoff for a new president to lead the country through its severe financial crisis, after no candidate won an outright majority in Sunday’s vote.
Nicos Anastasiades, a right-winger who presented himself as the most capable to negotiate a bailout with Cyprus’ European partners, won the first round on Sunday, but with less than the 50 percent plus one vote needed for an outright victory.
With 99.5 percent of the vote counted, Anastasiades had 45.44 percent of the vote.
He will face left-wing Stavros Malas in the Feb. 24 runoff.
Malas won 26.93 percent of the vote and has advocated being more assertive in bailout negotiations so his country can win better conditions in return for rescue loans.