Cyprus is an island nation found in the Eastern Mediterranean, not far from the coasts of Turkey, Syria and Lebanon. The country’s capital Nicosia is found in the islands central north-east, sitting upon the disputed border between Cyprus and the section of the island that is currently occupied by Turkey.
The earliest known human activity has been traced all the way back to the 10th Millennium BC. In the 2nd Millennium BC the island was settled by Mycenean Greeks. Due to the islands strategic location it has changed hands between numerous major powers over its long history, with the first being the Assyrians, Egyptian and Persian powers before the island was taken by Alexander the Great in 333 BC.
Further rule of the island was had by Ptolemaic Egypt, the Classical and Eastern Roman Empires, Arab caliphates, the French Lusignan dynasty, the Venetians and then finally over three centuries of Ottoman rule from 1571. As can be seen the island has been through a lot.
The Cyprus Convention agreed between the United Kingdom and the Ottoman Empire gave the United Kingdom secret administration of Cyprus from 1878 and Cyprus was formally annexed by the United Kingdom in 1914 and became British Cyprus. During the 1950s the island became increasingly divided between the Greek Cypriot population in the south and the Turkish Cypriot population in the north, with the north wanting to become a Turkish state, with some leaders also advocating for its annexation, meanwhile the south wanted union with Greece, which became a Greek national policy during that time.
The divisions hit a boiling point in 1955 when a Greek Cypriot Right-Wing nationalist group begun an armed campaign to end British colonial rule and unify Cyprus with Greece, in response the Turkish Cypriots formed a resistance group that aimed for partition of Cyprus, aiming to make a Turkish north and Greek south. This period from 1955 to 1959 was known as the Cyprus Emergency and it lead to the London-Zurich Agreement that gave the island independence as the Republic of Cyprus but did not partition the island between Greece and Turkey, the agreement did allow Britain to maintain Akrotiri and Dhekelia as overseas territories on the island which they still hold today used for military bases and installations.
Despite this, tensions remained and the crisis boiled over again in the mid-1960s bringing inter-communal violence between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, displacing 10s of thousands of Turkish Cypriots and bringing an end to their representation in the Republic. Then in July 1974 a coup was staged by Greek Cypriot nationalists and some elements of Greek Military junta in an attempt to unify Cyprus with Greece, which led to Turkey invading the island on 20th July.
The crisis displaced many 10s of thousands on both sides and led to Northern Cyprus being annexed under Turkish control in 1983 (widely unrecognized by the international community) after a ceasefire failed, with the south of the country remaining an independent republic.
The official languages are Greek and Turkish and the largest religion (on the Republic of Cyprus side) is Eastern Orthodoxy (Islam is the largest religion in occupied North). The Republic of Cyprus uses the Euro as its currency while the occupied north uses the Turkish lira. The island population is estimated to reach 1,266,676 by July 2020 according to the CIA World Factbook.
Government Type
The Republic of Cyprus is a unitary presidential representative republic where it has a President as both Head of State and Head of Government and there is a unicameral chamber of parliament that makes up the legislative government. Multiple parties are allowed.
Executive Government
As already said there is a single leader who is President and as Head of State they represent the country abroad in both international and foreign affairs and as Head of Government and the President has many powers to control, organize and manage governmental affairs and influence general government policy.
Per the constitution there is meant to be a vice-president who is a Turkish Cypriot, but this post has been vacant ever since the occupation of Northern Cyprus, the Vice-President was also meant to appoint three Turkish Cypriots to the government cabinet as well.
As per the constitution the President is a Greek Cypriot.
The constitution splits up the population between a Greek Cypriot community and Turkish Cypriot community with provisions allowing processes to switch communities, of course for now this is basically void as long as the north is occupied, but it remains in place for whenever it can come fully into force if the island one day reunifies.
Presidential Absence
If there is temporary absence or incapacity of the President, then the President of the House of Representatives (the unicameral parliament) will temporarily step up to act as President. If there is permanent vacancy then the President of the House of Representatives will act as President until new elections elect a new President.
International and Foreign Affairs
As Head of State the President in the capacity of representing the country in diplomatic and foreign affairs will sign credentials of appointed diplomatic envoys and receive credentials of foreign diplomatic envoys. The President also signs credentials of appointed delegates for negotiations of international treaties, conventions or agreements, or for the signing of treaties, conventions or agreements that have been already negotiated.
Council of Ministers
There is a Council of Ministers that is appointed by the President (seven Greek Cypriot Ministers) and is also meant to have three Turkish Cypriot members appointed by the Vice-President of which at least one of those Turkish Cypriot members would take the post of either the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence or the Ministry of Finance, although the President and Vice-President can instead agree to a system of rotation. But of course, due to the current situation this system is not currently actively in place, and so members are appointed by the President.
The Council of Ministers exercises the governments executive power and each minister runs an essential department of the government. Decisions in the Council of Ministers are made by an absolute majority vote of its members and unless vetoed by the President (of where right of veto exists) are instead promulgated by the President. The President and the Council of Ministers are responsible to the House of Representatives.
The Council of Ministers have general direction and control of government and set the direction of general policy, foreign affairs, defense, security, co-ordination and supervision of all public services, supervision and disposition of public property; consider Minister’s bills to be introduced to the House of Representatives; making of orders and regulations for carrying into effect of laws passed by the House of Representatives and finally consideration of the State Budget to be introduced to the House of Representatives.
Ministers in the Council of Ministers cannot sit as a representative in the House of Representatives and cannot hold any other public office while their tenure as minister lasts.
Other Presidential Powers
The President’s other powers (that are meant to be shared jointly with the Vice-president but aren’t due to the current situation) include creation and establishment of honours of the republic; promulgation of a law or decision passed by the House of Representatives (with the President having right of final veto concerning foreign affairs, defence or security); reduction or increase in security forces; powers to pardon and commute sentences and address of messages to the House of Representatives.
The President alone designates and terminates Greek ministers; convening and presiding over meetings of the Council of Ministers and taking part in discussions but without a casting vote; determines agenda of Council of Ministers meetings and the right to return law bills or decisions of the House of Representatives for a second opinion and return of the State Budget.
The President and Vice-President are meant to jointly appoint an Auditor-General, Deputy Auditor-General and Governor and Deputy Governor of the Issuing Bank of the Republic and a Accountant-General and Deputy Accountant-General, with each category having one who is a Greek Cypriot and other who is a Turkish Cypriot and so I can only assume the Deputy positions are vacant.
Legislative and Council of Ministers Right of Veto
So as stated the President has the right of veto on legislation and decisions passed by the House of Representatives and Council of Ministers on foreign affairs, this does not include participation in international organisations and pacts of alliance in which Greece and Turkey both participate in. But it does include veto on things such as state recognition, declaration of war or making peace, setting up of consular offices, pretty much anything in diplomatic affairs, conclusion of international treaties and agreements and so on.
In the right to veto on legislation or decisions concerning defence this includes things such as composition and size of armed forces; promotions; important war materials and explosives of all kinds and cession of bases and other facilities in allied countries.
And finally, in the right to veto on legislation or decisions concerning security this includes things such as promotions; distribution and stationing of forces; emergency measures, martial law and police laws.
The President can also return any other legislation or decision back to the House of Representatives if disagreed with it in part or in full for a second consultation. But if the House of Representatives pass returned legislation and decisions again unchanged then they must be promulgated, this is also true for decisions of the Council of Ministers.
Legislative Government
The House of Representatives is the single unicameral chamber of parliament that makes up the Republic of Cyprus’ legislative government. The House of Representatives are meant to have 80 members (originally 50 as stated in constitution but this number can be changed via a resolution carried by a two-third majority, which again would have also included two-third majorities of each Greek and Turkish Cypriot community representatives as well, but I again assume the process is altered in the current situation).
So, there are meant to be 80 members but only 56 seats are occupied as the others are reserved for Turkish Cypriot representatives which are vacant due to the current situation. 70% of seats are elected by Greek Cypriots and the other 30% are meant to be elected by Turkish Cypriots.
House President and Bureau
After elections the President of the House of Representatives will be a Greek Cypriot elected by the Greek Cypriot representatives (and the vice-president of the house which is currently vacant would be a Turkish Cypriot who is elected by Turkish Cypriot representatives). If temporary absence occurs then the President of the House is held by the eldest member of the respective Cypriot community, unless that Cypriot Community’s representatives decide otherwise. There are four Greek Clerks appointed by the President of the House, there would also be two Turkish Clerks as well appointed by the vice-president, but again, vacant.
The President of the House regulates debate, organizes session agenda, opens and closes sessions, announces next session with consent of House and also makes sure House rules are followed and abided by.
House of Representative Duties and Functions
The main job of the House of Representatives is to introduce, debate, amend, pass or reject legislation, resolutions and decisions and to debate on and pass the state budget. A number of committees exist for the purposes of legislation readings, introduction and other functions, there is a Committee of Selection which would have reserved seats for Greek and Turkish representation and these members would select the members of the other committees giving a fair representation for both communities (of course though, this is currently not fully in function and only Greek Cypriots are being selected, which means a lot of vacancies).
Both representatives and the Council of Ministers can introduce legislation and resolutions to the House of Representatives (but representatives cannot introduce an increase in budgetary expenditure).
Sessions of Parliament are open to the public but can be held in secret via a three-quarter majority vote.
The House of Representatives can dissolve itself for early elections by an absolute majority vote (which would also require at least a one-third majority vote of Turkish Cypriot members if they were present). Elections in this case would elect members only to serve out the rest of the current parliamentary term and would not refresh the parliamentary term for another 5-year term.
Communal Chambers (Vacant)
Note that there are also meant to be communal chambers separate from the House of Representatives that represent the individual Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, but again this isn’t in operation due to the current situation but the provisions remain in place if unification ever happens. The Communal Chambers have special powers reserved to them that allow to challenge or change decisions of the House of Representatives that pertain to a Cypriot community’s interests and concerns as laid out by the constitution.
Since it isn’t in operations and there is no reason to suspect it will be anytime soon, I am not going to put any further information on it for now.
Judicial System
Head of State Removal
The President can be prosecuted for high treason or an offence that involves dishonesty or moral turpitude, put forth by the Attorney-General and Deputy Attorney-General before the High Court upon a resolution of the House of Representatives carried by a three-fourths majority. While the President is being prosecuted, they will be suspended from office, if charged they will be removed from office.
Attorney-General
The Attorney-General and Deputy Attorney-General are meant to be jointly appointed by the President and Vice-President with one being a Greek Cypriot and the other a Turkish Cypriot, so I can only assume that the Deputy is likely vacant. Those appointed must be qualified to be appointed as a judge on the High Court.
Supreme Court
There is a Supreme Constitutional Court that is meant to be jointly appointed by the President and Vice-President, with their being one Greek Cypriot Judge, a Turkish Cypriot Judge (assumed vacant) and a neutral Judge, with the neutral Judge being President of the Supreme Constitutional Court, the neutral judge cannot be a citizen of Greece, Turkey or the United Kingdom and the Colonies.
The President (and Vice-President and Communal Chambers) or the House of Representatives or any other organ of, or authority in the Republic, if involved such conflict or contest can ask for Recourse.
High Court of Justice
The High Court of Justice is meant to be jointly appointed President of the Republic and the Vice-President of the Republic, appointing two Greek Cypriot Judges, one Turkish Cypriot Judge (assumed vacant) and a neutral Judge who is President of the High Court of Justice (and has two votes). Again the neutral Judge cannot be a citizen of Turkey, Greece or of the United Kingdom and its Colonies.
Electoral System
Presidential elections happen every 5-years using a two-round system where a candidate requires an absolute majority to win in the first round, if no candidate reaches that threshold then a 2nd round is held between the top two candidates which is won by simple majority.
To be a candidate for president one must be a citizen of the Republic, be at least 35-years or older, to have not been convicted of an offense that involves dishonesty or moral turpitude and to not be under disqualification from any electoral office due to electoral offense. The candidate must also not be suffering from a mental disease that incapacitates them from acting as President.
Parliamentary elections happen every 5-years.
Members are elected from multi-seat constituencies using a proportional representation and preferential voting system. Greek Cypriots elects the 70% of seats held by Greek Cypriots representatives while the other 30% are meant to be elected by Turkish Cypriots, which of course isn’t currently happening.
To be a candidate for parliament one must be a citizen of the Republic who is at least 25-years or older, who has not been convicted of an offense that involves honesty and moral turpitude and not under a disqualification imposed by a court for electoral offense and must not have a mental disease that incapacitates them from acting as a representative.
To vote in elections one must be a citizen of the Republic who is at least 18-years-old meeting residential qualifications prescribed by the Electoral Law. Under a unified state Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots would be sorted into separate electoral lists for their respective elections. Voting is not mandatory.
Sources
My sources are from the country’s 1960 constitution with amendments through to 2013 (a pdf from constituteproject.org), note that there has been three subsequent amendments not yet incorporated into that version but that are not entirely effecting the structure of this post, and the information is still as accurate as possible, but you should still do cross-research as I may have misinterpreted some things and also the constitution can change at any time again and so this may eventually become outdated to the point where information isn’t as accurate as possible.
The three amendments are as follows…
A 2015 amendments that sets up an Administrative Court.
An April 2016 amendment that amended Article 15, so that quoted from source… “so that transparency in public life or the undertaking of measures against corruption be included in the reasons for which it is acceptable under the law to intervene in the exercise of the right to private and family life, in order to enable the adoption of a law for the compulsory publication and control of the assets of state officers.”
And finally, an amendment on September 2016 that abolished the death penalty.
Source Here for the above amendments.
Other information on population is from the CIA World Factbook Cyprus entry.
Constitutional Amendments are proposed by the House of Representatives and require a two-third majority vote to pass as it currently stands, if the Turkish members were also present and their seats not vacant then the amendment would also need a two-third majority from them as well.
Next up will be the government system of the Czech Republic (Czechia).
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