ABSTRACT
The chief characteristic of this election was the significant rise in abstention, suggesting citizens’ disengagement. The loss of influence of political parties is related to a long-term cumulative effect of disappointment arising from missed opportunities, including Cyprus’s entry into the European Union and domestic shifts in power. Political leaders failed to secure expected benefits and offer new prospects that could mobilise and sustain participation. The article examines the background, the campaign and the results of the 2011 parliamentary election and refers to the potential impact on resolution of the Cyprus question.
