Two large-scale events coinciding with parliamentary elections in Cyprus threaten to leave polling stations half empty.
We are talking about the EuroBasket Final Four, which will take place in Athens: the semi-finals will be held on Friday, May 22, and the final on Sunday, May 24, 2026, that is, on the same day as the parliamentary elections in Cyprus.
Equally attracting attention is the grandiose Iron Maiden concert planned as part of the Run for Your Lives tour on Saturday, May 23, also in Athens, at the OAKA Stadium.
Thus, thousands of Cypriots - both fans of basketball and the legendary rock band - can spend the weekend not at the polling stations, but in Greece, enjoying the sports and musical spectacle.
Experts are already pointing out that the coincidence of dates can significantly affect voter turnout, which already remains low. In the 2021 parliamentary elections, the level of abstention reached 34.28%, which in absolute numbers amounts to almost 200 thousand people (191,228).
Now those “traditional non-voters” may be joined by those who choose basketball or Iron Maiden instead of voting for the 56 deputies who will shape the country's legislative agenda for the next five years.
Source: offsite.com.cy
