House of Representatives (Cyprus)

The House of Representatives (Greek: Βουλή των Αντιπροσώπων Voulī́ tōn Antiprosṓpōn; Turkish: Temsilciler Meclisi) is the parliament of the Republic of Cyprus. Members and three observers representing the Armenian, Latin and Maronite minorities are elected by proportional representation every five years. 30% of seats are allocated to the Turkish Cypriot community, but these have been vacant since 1964.

House of Representatives

Βουλή των Αντιπροσώπων  (Greek)
Temsilciler Meclisi  (Turkish)
Type
Type
History
Founded1960
Leadership
President
Demetris Syllouris, KA
since 2016
Deputy Speakers
Savvas Kyriakou
Panayotis Koumis
Charalampos Merkis
Konstantinos Fylaktou
Nikitas Kousolos
Nektarios Tzorvas, DISY
Structure
Seats80, but only 56 occupied.
Political groups
Government (21)
     DISY (18)
     KA (3)
Opposition (35)

     AKEL (16)
     DIKO (7)
     EDEK (3)
     KOSP (2)
     ELAM (2)
     SYPOL (1)

     Independents (4)
Elections
Open list proportional representation
Last election
22 May 2016
Meeting place
House of Representatives, 1402 Nicosia
Republic of Cyprus
Website
www.parliament.cy
Cyprus
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Cyprus

Elections

A general election must be held on the second Sunday of the month immediately preceding the month in which the term of office of the outgoing House expires. The outgoing House continues in office until the newly elected House assumes office, but during this time the outgoing House does not have the power to make any laws or to take any decision on any matter, except in urgent and exceptional unforeseen circumstances.

The House may dissolve itself by its own decision before its term of office expires. When it so decides, it must also specify the date of the general elections which must not be less than 30 or more than 40 days from the date of such decision. In the event of the House dissolving itself it must also specify the date for the first meeting of the newly elected House, which must not be later than fifteen days after the general elections.

Composition

Communities

According to article 62(1) of the Constitution the number of representatives is 50. Out of this number 35 are elected by the Greek Cypriot Community and 15 by the Turkish Cypriot Community. However, since 1964, Turkish Cypriot members have not attended the House, and no elections have been held among the Turkish Cypriot community in accordance with the Republic's constitution. Despite this anomaly, the House has kept vacant the seats allocated to the Turkish Cypriot community. These seats remain at the disposal of Turkish Cypriot Deputies should they be elected according to the constitutional provisions.

However, for the smooth running of the House of Representatives and of the Committees in particular, the House decided in July 1985 by adopting law 124, to increase the seats to 80. Of these 56 (70%) representatives are elected by the Greek Cypriot Community and 24 (30%) by the Turkish Cypriot Community, as provided in article 62(2) of the Constitution. The decision was dictated by events because of the broadening of the activities of the House and its participation in many international parliamentary organisations; the number of 50 Representatives was not enough for the unhindered functioning of the legislative body and particularly the functioning of the parliamentary committees.

Seats by District

The current electoral law provides for a simple proportional representation system. The number of seats in each constituency is determined by law with constituencies coinciding with administrative districts. Seat allocation for the Greek Cypriot community are as follows:

DistrictsSeats
Nicosia20
Limassol12
Famagusta11
Larnaca6
Paphos4
Kyrenia3
Total: 56

History

The first parliamentary elections were held on 31 July 1960 and the elections for the Communal Chambers on 7 August 1960. They were conducted on the basis of the colonial legislation and in accordance with the majority electoral system. The Constitution stipulated that there should be fifty Representatives, thirty-five Greek (70%), elected by the Greek community, and fifteen Turkish (30%), elected by the Turkish community. The smooth functioning of the newly established House of Representatives was however impeded from the very beginning, due to the weaknesses of the Constitution.

The Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus was a given one, worked out by a composite constitutional committee. Though it safeguards the fundamental freedoms and rights of the citizens, at the same time it comprises divisive elements that from the very outset acted as an impediment to the smooth course and development of the State. That happened for the parliament where the constitution provided the requirement for separate majorities of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot Representatives for any amendment of the electoral law and the adoption of legislation pertaining to the municipalities and the imposition of duties or taxes. Thus, a small number of Turkish Cypriot Representatives had the ability to block decisions pertaining to these matters.

In 1961 the Turkish Cypriot Representatives, making use of this right, voted against the bill for the extension of the taxation law and, subsequently, against the Income Tax Bill, leaving the Republic without pertinent income tax legislation for four years.

Following intercommunal violence, which occurred in December 1963, the fifteen Turkish Cypriot Representatives withdrew from the House and their seats remain vacant to this day. All Turkish Cypriots holding state offices or posts in the civil service also withdrew.

In its subsequent terms of office, the House of Representatives assumed the additional task of collaborating with the executive authority, in order to enact special legislation for the equitable distribution of the burdens emanating from the Turkish invasion and occupation, as well as to take other legislative measures aiming at the island’s economic recovery and the relief of the missing persons’ families and those persons displaced or adversely affected. Ever since it is actively involved, both at local and international levels, in the struggle of the people of Cyprus for a just and viable settlement in the Cyprus dispute.

Election results

2016 election
 Summary of the 22 May 2016 House of Representatives of Cyprus election results
Party Vote Seats
Votes % ±pp Won +/−
Democratic Rally (DISY) 107,825 30.69 3.66 18 2
Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL) 90,204 25.67 7.07 16 3
Democratic Party (DIKO) 50,923 14.49 1.25 9 0
Movement for Social Democracy (EDEK) 21,732 6.18 2.75 3 2
Citizens' Alliance (SYPOL) 21,114 6.01 New 3 3
Solidarity Movement (KA) 18,424 5.24 New 3 11
Movement of Ecologists - Citizens' Cooperation (KOSP) 16,909 4.81 2.59 2 1
National Popular Front (ELAM) 13,041 3.71 2.63 2 2
Animal Party Cyprus (APC) 4,088 1.16 New 0 0
People's Breath (PL) 3,072 0.87 New 0 0
Flag Social Movement (KKS) 2,033 0.58 New 0 0
Union of Fighters for Justice (OAD) 983 0.28 New 0 0
Independents 1,041 0.29 0
Reserved observer seats for minorities 3
Total 351,389100.00 59
Valid votes 351,38996.92 0.19
Invalid votes 7,6752.12 0.04
Blank votes 3,4780.96 0.23
Voted/turnout 362,54266.74 11.96
Abstention 180,64433.26 11.96
Registered voters 543,186
Source: results.elections.moi.gov.cy

2011 election
 Summary of the 22 May 2011 House of Representatives of Cyprus election results
Parties Votes % +/– Seats +/–
Democratic Rally (DISY) 138,682 34.28 +3.76 20 +2
Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL) 132,171 32.67 +1.36 19 +1
Democratic Party (DIKO) 63,763 15.76 −2.22 9 −2
Movement for Social Democracy (EDEK) 36,113 8.93 −0.03 5 ±0
European Party (EVROKO) 15,711 3.88 −1.91 2 −1
Ecological and Environmental Movement (KOP) 8,960 2.21 +0.25 1 ±0
National Popular Front (ELAM) 4,354 1.08 +1.08 0 ±0
Popular Socialist Party (LASOK) 2,667 0.66 +0.42 0 ±0
Balance – Independent Citizens Movement (Zygos – KAP) 859 0.21 — 0 —
Cypriot Progressive Cooperation (KYPROS) 709 0.18 — 0 —
Independents 588 0.14 — 0 —
Reserved seats for minorities–––30
Invalid/blank votes13,670––––
Total418,247100–590
Registered voters/turnout531,46378.70–10.31––
Source: results.elections.moi.gov.cy

2006 election
 Summary of the 21 May 2006 House of Representatives of Cyprus election results
Parties Votes % ±pp Seats +/–
Progressive Party of Working People (Anorthotiko Komma Ergazomenou Laou) 131,066 31.13 -3.6 18 -2
Democratic Rally (Dimokratikos Sinagermos) 127,776 30.34 -3.7 18 -1
Democratic Party (Dimokratiko Komma) 75,458 17.92 +3.1 11 +2
Movement for Social Democracy (Kinima Sosialdimokraton) 37,533 8.91 +2.4 5 +1
European Party (Evropaiko Komma) 24,196 5.75 new 3 -1¹
Ecological and Environmental Movement (Kinima Ikologon Perivallontiston) 8,193 1.95 -0.0 1 ±0
United Democrats (Enomeni Dimokrates) 6,567 1.56 -1.0 0 -1
Free Citizens Movement (Kinima Eleftheri Polites) 5,157 1.22 new 0 ±0
European Democracy (Evropaiki Dimokratia) 1,844 0.44 new 0 ±0
Political Hunting Movement (Politiko Kinima Kinigon) 1,112 0.26 new 0 ±0
Popular Socialist Movement (Laiko Sosialistiko Kinima) 981 0.23 new 0 ±0
Independents 1204 0.29 — 0 —
Reserved seats for minorities–––30
Valid votes 421,08794.43–590
Invalid votes14,7243.30–––
Blank votes10,1042.27–––
Voted/turnout445,91589.00–3.0--
Absenteeism55,10911.00+3.0––
Registered voters501,024--––
Sources: results.elections.moi.gov.cy

2001 election
 Summary of the 27 May 2001 House of Representatives of Cyprus election results
Parties Votes % Seats
Progressive Party of Working People (Anorthotikon Komma Ergazomenou Laou) 142,647 34.71 20
Democratic Rally (Dimokratikos Sinagermos) 139,732 34.00 19
Democratic Party (Dimokratikon Komma) 60,977 14.84 9
Movement for Social Democracy United Democratic Union of Centre (Kinima Sosialdimokraton Eniaia Dimokratiki Enosi Kentrou) 26,770 6.51 4
New Horizons (Neoi Orizontes) 12,334 3.00 1
United Democrats (Enomeni Dimokrates) 10,640 2.59 1
Fighting Democratic Movement (Agonistiko Dimokratiko Kinima) 8,860 2.16 1
Ecological and Environmental Movement (Kinima Oikologon Perivallontiston) 8,128 1.98 1
Maronite, Roman-Catholic and Armenian minorities 3
Total (turnout 90.5% of 467,543 registered voters) 410,996 100.0 59
Source: results.elections.moi.gov.cy

Presidents of the House of Representatives

The President of the House is Greek Cypriot and is elected by the Representatives elected by the Greek Cypriot community. The Vice-President is constitutionally provided for to be Turkish Cypriot and is elected by the Representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community. In case of temporary absence of the President or Vice-President of the House, their functions are performed by the eldest Representative of the respective community unless the Representatives of that community decide otherwise. Currently, the President of the House is Demetris Syllouris.

The following people have been Presidents of the House[1]

Members
  • List of members of the parliament of Cyprus, 1981–1985
  • List of members of the parliament of Cyprus, 1985–1991
  • List of members of the parliament of Cyprus, 1991–1996
  • List of members of the parliament of Cyprus, 2001–2006
  • List of members of the parliament of Cyprus, 2006–2011
  • List of members of the parliament of Cyprus, 2011–2016
  • List of members of the parliament of Cyprus, 2016–present
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References
  1. "Parliament Of Cyprus". www.parliament.cy.

See also

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