Fourteen candidates join race for Cyprus presidency in Feb. vote

Cyprus independent candidate Andreas Mavroyiannis delivers a speech during submitting his candidacy for Cyprus presidential election in Nicosia, Cyprus January 5, 2023. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou

NICOSIA (Reuters) - Fourteen candidates formally joined the race on Thursday to become Cyprus's next president in an election next month dominated by the island's decades-old division, irregular migration and corruption scandals.

Cyprus has a presidential system of government and the head of state has wide executive powers.