President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades has stressed that the people`s verdict, as expressed in Sunday's parliamentary elections, is fully respected.

In a written statement, issued here this evening, once the outcome of the election was made know, the President said he will help create a climate of unity and consensus, adding at the same time that the high percentage of abstention in today's poll is a cause for concern.

President Anastasiades welcomed the high level of political culture which the people of Cyprus have exhibited both during the pre-election campaign and during today`s voting.

He said he was very pleased with the work carried out by the competent services of the Republic and all those who participated in the election procedures, commending the way the elections were organised.

“The people of Cyprus, through their verdict today, elected the new legislature. I would like to warmly congratulate those people who were honored by the people's vote, whose verdict is fully respected”, the President said.

The new House of Representatives will be called upon to take critical and crucial decisions for the future of the country, he added.

In this context, President Anastasiades added, “as the guardian of the Constitution, I will honour my institutional role to create a climate of unity and consensus, so as to help address major challenges that we have before us, whether they relate to our national problem or the continuation of reforms and the decisive handling of problems which citizens continue to face”.

"I believe that the decision of a large part of the electorate to abstain from the elections is something that should trouble everyone," the President concluded.