The newly elected Cypriot Parliament convenes this afternoon at 4 PM for its first session since the May 24 elections. The session will begin with the swearing-in of 56 Members of Parliament and religious group representatives, followed by the election of the new Speaker under a revised electoral framework.

The major change in this process affects the second round of voting. A candidate must secure at least 29 votes, an absolute majority, in the first round to be elected. If no candidate achieves this threshold, the top two proceed to a runoff where the candidate with the most votes wins. In the event of a tie in the runoff, a public lottery will determine the Speaker.

This election is seen as a critical test of the political balance post-elections, with AKEL candidate Stefanos Stefanu supported by Alma-polis holding a strong position. The Democratic Rally backs incumbent Annita Demetriou, while the Democratic Party is expected to finalize its candidate shortly. Smaller parties like ELAM and Direct Democracy will play a key role in influencing the outcome, making a second round the likely scenario.