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According to the first Exit poll after the election day in Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades ranks first, with 51% of the votes, followed by Stavros Malas - 27%, and George Lillikas - 17%, as reported by the Bulgarian newspaper in Cyprus.

As GRReporter has already informed, Anastasiades was the front-runner in the election polls and it was considered that there was a real chance that he would win in the first round. Nicos Anastasiades is Chairman of the centre-right Democratic Rally (DISY), Stavros Malas is representative of the Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL) and George Lillikas is independent.

The electoral activity was about 80%. Chairman of the Central Election Commission Andreas Asiotis said that by three o'clock in the afternoon, 61.35% of voters in Cyprus had exercised their right to vote. By comparison, 75% of voters voted at the presidential elections in 2008. Of the people who have voting rights, 61.3% voted in Lefkosia, 62% in Lemesos, 61.6% in Amohostos, 63.7% in Larnaca and 61.5% in Paphos.

The first results were announced at 6 p.m., but a clearer picture is expected around 8.30 p.m.

All media attributed the victory in the first round to Anastasiades. In details:

According to Ant1 TV:

Anastasiades won 48%-52%;

Malas - 23.5%-26.5%;

Lillikas - 19.5%-22.5%.

According to Sigma TV:

Anastasiades won 49%-52.2%;

Malas - 24%-27%;

Lillikas - 19%-22%.

According to Mega TV:

Anastasiades - 49-52%;

Stavros Malas -23.5 % - 26%;

George Lillikas - 20% - 22.5%.

According to Cyprus State Radio:

Anastasiades - 49.6% - 52.6 %;

Malas -25.8 % - 28.8 %;

George Lillikas - 17% - 19%.

These elections are crucial, since the new President will have to sign the loan agreement and attempt to find a solution to the Cyprus issue - and this is happening in a very difficult environment. According to foreign press information, lenders want to merge the two themes with the issue of natural gas, in order to drive Lefkosia to the wall.

If Anastasiadis wins more than 50% of the votes, he will be elected President in the first round. Otherwise, there will be a second round of elections.

The most important issue of the pre-election period was Cyprus's subordination to the Memorandum, although Eurogroup seems to be hesitant about the country since it delayed the decisions regarding the island and now these are to be taken in March.

After having exercised his right to vote, current President Dimitris Christofias expressed his excitement, but also his disappointment over the failure of the attempts to resolve the Cyprus issue. He insisted that the next President should continue in the same direction that was set by the Security Council of the UN.

After the end of the election day, data showed that the electoral activity was 82.84%, compared to 89.62% during the presidential elections in 2008. Of the people who have voting rights, 81.82% voted in Lefkosia, 83.86% voted in Amohostos, 84,01% voted in Larnaca, and 84% voted in Paphos.

For the first time, there were ballot boxes abroad as well. Some 80% of registered voters voted abroad.

After 58% of the voting-papers were counted, it became clear that Nicos Anastasiades had won 45.27% of the vote, Stavros Malas - 27.6%, and George Lillikas - 24.97%.

Expect further details.