NICOSIA, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus' center-right ruling DISY party and opposition left wing AKEL party are expected to win two European Parliament seats each in Sunday's vote, while centrist DIKO and socialist EDEK party are projected to secure one seat each, according to exit polls.
DISY is associated with the European People's Party, AKEL with European United Left group, and DIKO and EDEK with the Socialist group in the European Parliament.
An exit poll by state television said DISY is expected to win 28 to 31.5 percent of the votes, AKEL 27 to 30.5 percent, DIKO 11.5 to 14 percent, Socialist EDEK 6.5 to 8.5 percent, Democratic Movement 3.5 to 5.5 percent, Greens-Citizens alliance 3.5 to 4 percent, Turkish Cypriot "Yiasemi" (Jasmin) group 1 to 2 percent and others 2.5 percent.
Official results will be announced after midnight, in line with European practice to make voting results known only after all polling stations in all EU countries have closed.
The most notable element of the poll is the expected election of a Turkish Cypriot for the first time in an electoral process organized by the Cypriot government.
The exit poll said Niazi Kizilyurek, a professor of political science at the University of Cyprus, was elected first in line with left wing AKEL party.
Voting was again marked with a low turnout, which was about 42 percent of the 641,181 registered voters, the same as the previous European elections in 2014.
However, Turkish Cypriot voters turned out in force, with about 5,500 out of a total of 81,000 registered voters casting their ballots, a turnout much higher than the 1,800 votes cast by Turkish Cypriots in 2014
President Nicos Anastasiades, who met with Turkish Cypriot candidates and voters at a polling station, commented that the level of Turkish Cypriot participation was an indication of how much better off Cyprus would be if it were feasible to reunite and live as European citizens.
Asked about the fact that Turkish Cypriots were eager to meet him and speak with him, Anastasiades said: "This is proof that people understand they were citizens of the same country and that the current state of affairs does not benefit any one."
He also commented on the prospect of the election of a Turkish Cypriot deputy, saying it would help people understand that they are citizens of the European Union.
The United Nations is currently engaged in consultations with the parties involved in the Cyprus problem in a bid to agree on the terms of reference for the resumption of the stalled negotiations for the reunification of Cyprus.
A total of 72 candidates from Cyprus are competing for six seats in the European Parliament. Of the 72 candidates, 69 are backed by political parties or coalitions, and three are independent.
Candidates included nine Turkish Cypriots backed by two Turkish Cypriot political formations and one by the Greek Cypriot main opposition party AKEL.
