MOST OF THE PARTIES COMPRISING THE RULING COALITION ADMINISTRATION GAINED GROUND IN CYPRUS' PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS SUNDAY, BUT THE ISLAND'S TWO MAIN RIVAL PARTIES LOST SEATS AND A SMALLER PARTY CHIEF RESIGNED AFTER HE FAILED TO ENTER THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, DPA REPORTED. IN ALL, 487 CANDIDATES CHALLENGED THE 56 SEATS IN PARLIAMENT, A MAINLY LEGISLATIVE AND NON-EXECUTIVE BODY, WHILE THE ISLAND-STATE'S PRESIDENT IS ELECTED DIRECTLY BY THE PEOPLE. THE MAIN COALITION PARTNER, THE COMMUNIST AKEL, SHED 3.4 PERCENTAGE POINTS FROM ITS VOTERS AND POLLED 31.2 PER CENT OF THE VOTES, ENTERING PARLIAMENT WITH 18 DEPUTIES, TWO LESS THAN IN THE PREVIOUS ASSEMBLY. THE CLEAR WINNER IN THESE ELECTIONS IS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY (DIKO) OF PRESIDENT TASSOS PAPADOPOULOS THAT RAISED ITS VOTER STRENGTH BY THREE PERCENTAGE POINTS TO 17.9 PER CENT AND GAINED A NEW SEAT, RISING TO 10 DEPUTIES.
