27/05/2019 (Agence Europe) – For the first time since Cyprus joined the European Union in 2004, a Turkish Cypriot candidate, Niyazi Kizilyürek, will enter the European Parliament. A political scientist, Mr Kizilyürek is a specialist in the political history of Turkey and Cyprus and was one of the advisors to the Cypriot President, Nicos Anastasiades, on Turkey. His candidacy on the lists of the Akel party (radical left) had been controversial. Mr Kizilyürek is expected to sit in the GUE/NGL group, as is the other elected member of the Akel party. With them, two members of President Anastasiades' party, Disy (EPP), and two members Diko (S&D) and Edek (S&D) will join Parliament. More than 549,000 Greek Cypriots and nearly 81,000 Turkish Cypriots were registered to vote. The latter had to travel to the unoccupied part of the island to vote. (CG)