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Politics of Cyprus

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Politics of Cyprus
Constitution
Executive
Legislative
Judiciary
Elections
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations

Ministries

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The Ministers form the Council of Ministers, including other members who may not be listed, which is an independent collective body with independent powers. In bold is listed a Ministry that was not an original ministry, but created after London and Zürich Agreements.[1]

  1. Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Minister: Petros Xenophontos
  2. Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry, Minister: Giorgos Papanastasiou
  3. Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, Minister: Alexis Vafiades
  4. Ministry of Defence, Minister: Vasilis Palmas
  5. Ministry of Education, Sports and youth, Minister: Dr Athena Michaelidou
  6. Ministry of Finance, Minister: Makis Keravnos
  7. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister: Constantinos Kombos
  8. Ministry of Health, Minister: Popi Kanari
  9. Ministry of Interior, Minister: Constantinos Ioannou
  10. Ministry of Justice and Public Order, Minister: Anna Prokopiou
  11. Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance, Minister: Yiannis Panayiotou[1][2]

Deputy Ministries

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  1. Deputy Ministry of Shipping, Deputy Minister: Marina Hadjimanoli
  2. Deputy Ministry of Tourism, Deputy Minister: Costas Koumis
  3. Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Deputy Minister: Nicodemos Damianou
  4. Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare, Deputy Minister: Marilena Evangelou
  5. Deputy Ministry of Culture, Deputy Minister: Vasiliki Kassianidou
  6. Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Asylum, Depute Minister: Nicholas A Ioannides[2]

Legislative branch

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The House of Representatives (Greek: Βουλή των Αντιπροσώπων, romanized: Voulḗ tōn Antiprosṓpōn; Turkish: Temsilciler Meclisi) has 59 members elected for a five-year term: 56 Greek Cypriot members chosen by proportional representation and 3 observer members representing the Maronite, Latin Catholic and Armenian minorities. 24 seats are allocated to the Turkish community, but are currently vacant.[3]

Political parties

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For other political parties, see List of political parties in Cyprus. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in Cyprus.

Democratic Rally (DISY)

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Main article: Democratic Rally

The centre-right Democratic Rally (DISY) is the largest political party in Cyprus, currently holding 17 of the 56 seats in the House of Representatives.[4] Founded on July 4, 1976, by veteran politician Glafcos Clerides, DISY emerged from the split of the right-wing "Eniaion" into two opposing parties: DISY and DIKO.[5][6]

DISY is a Christian democratic[7][8] and liberal-conservative[9] party, often described as the most Atlanticist, pro-NATO and pro-EU party in Cyprus.[10][11] The party is currently led by Annita Demetriou,[12] who also serves as the President of the Cypriot House of Representatives, making her the first woman to hold this office.[13] Two former leaders of the party have served as Presidents of Cyprus, Glafcos Clerides (1993–2003) and Nicos Anastasiades (2013–2023).[14] DISY is a member of the European People's Party.[15]

Over the years, internal disagreements, particularly regarding the Cyprus issue, have led to the formation of three splinter parties: the European Party (EvroKo), European Democracy (EvroDi)[16][17][18] and Solidarity Movement.[19][20] The current President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, was previously a member of DISY and served as Government Spokesman (2014–2018) and Minister of Foreign Affairs (2018–2022) under Anastasiades. Christodoulides sought DISY's nomination for the 2023 presidential election, but following accusations of undermining his campaign, he resigned from his ministerial role and launched an independent candidacy.[21][22][23]

Notable Figures

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Notable Former Party Members

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Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL)

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Main article: Progressive Party of Working People

The left-wing Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL) is the second largest political party in Cyprus, currently holding 15 of the 56 seats in the House of Representatives.[4] It was founded in 1926 with the name "Communist Party of Cyprus" fighting against fascism, imperialism and chauvinism, but also aiming at the independence of Cyprus from British rule.[24]

AKEL is a Marxist–Leninist, eurosceptic and communist party,[25][26][27] classified as left-wing[28][29] to far-left.[30] It is currently led by MP Stefanos Stefanou and it is a member of The Left in the European Parliament.[31] One party leader, Demetris Christofias, served as the President of Cyprus (2008-2013) for one term, without seeking re-election. Other presidents that were supported by AKEL were Archbishop Makarios III, Spyros Kyprianou, George Vassiliou and Tassos Papadopoulos.

Notable Figures

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Notable Former Party Members

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Democratic Party (DIKO)

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Main article: Democratic Party (Cyprus)

The Democratic Party (DIKO) is the largest centrist political party in Cyprus,[32] currently holding 9 out of the 56 seats in the House of Representatives.[4] Like the Democratic Rally (DISY), DIKO was founded in 1976 following the split of the right-wing "Eniaion". Initially named the Democratic Alignment (DIPA), the party was led by Spyros Kyprianou.[5]

DIKO is variously described as centrist,[33][34] centre-left[35] or centre-right;[36][37][38] internationally, it is a member of the Progressive Alliance, which groups together mainly centre-left parties.[39] DIKO claims to be the most loyal follower of the policies of Archbishop Makarios, the founding father of the Republic of Cyprus.[40] It is currently led by Nikolas Papadopoulos, son of Tassos Papadopoulos, former President of Cyprus and of DIKO.[41]

At its inception in 1976, DIKO maintained the right-wing ideology of its parent-party, Eniaion.[5] However, in June 2003, under the leadership of Tassos Papadopoulos, DIKO announced a shift away from its traditional centre-right stance and declared an intention to move towards social democracy.[42] The party has adopted a firm and hardline stance on the Cyprus problem, particularly in its strong opposition to the Annan Plan in 2004. While DIKO supports European integration and advocates a non-aligned foreign policy, it has also expressed support for Cyprus joining NATO's Partnership for Peace.[43]

Two former leaders of the party have served as Presidents of Cyprus, Spyros Kyprianou (1977-1988) and Tassos Papadopoulos (2003-2008). The current President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, although running as an independent, was supported by DIKO, making the party the largest in the current government.[44]

Internal disagreements over the Cyprus problem led to the creation of the splinter party Democratic Alignment (DIPA), in 2018, led by the former president of DIKO, Marios Garoyian.

Notable Figures

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Notable Former Party Members

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Latest elections

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President

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Main article: 2023 Cypriot presidential election
CandidatePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Nikos ChristodoulidesIndependent[a]127,30932.04204,86751.97
Andreas MavroyiannisIndependent[b]117,55129.59189,33548.03
Averof NeofytouDemocratic Rally103,74826.11
Christos ChristouNational Popular Front23,9886.04
Achilleas DimitriadesIndependent[c]8,1372.05
Constantinos ChristofidesNew Wave – The Other Cyprus6,3261.59
Georgios ColocassidesIndependent5,2871.33
Alexios SavvidesIndependent2,3950.60
Charalampos AristotelousIndependent8660.22
Celestina de PetroIndependent5750.14
Andronicos ZervidesIndependent3410.09
Ioulia Khovrina KomninouUnited Cyprus Republican Party3300.08
Andreas EfstratiouIndependent2990.08
Loukas StavrouNational Communitarian Reconstruction1650.04
Total397,317100.00394,202100.00
Valid votes397,31798.27394,20296.95
Invalid votes5,3331.328,4282.07
Blank votes1,6710.413,9860.98
Total votes404,321100.00406,616100.00
Registered voters/turnout561,27372.04561,27372.45
Source: Central Electoral Service, Central Electoral Service

Parliament

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Main article: 2021 Cypriot legislative election
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Democratic Rally99,32827.7717–1
Progressive Party of Working People79,91322.3415–1
Democratic Party40,39511.2990
National Popular Front24,2556.784+2
Movement for Social Democracy–Citizens' Alliance24,0226.724–2
Democratic Front21,8326.104New
Movement of Ecologists – Citizens' Cooperation15,7624.413+1
Active Citizens – Movement of Cypriot United Hunters11,7123.270New
Generation Change10,0952.820New
Solidarity Movement8,2542.310–3
Famagusta for Cyprus5,5961.560New
Awakening 20204,8391.350New
People's Breath4,5851.2800
Animal Party Cyprus3,5931.0000
Patriotic Coalition3760.110New
Independents3,1550.8800
Total357,712100.00560
Valid votes357,71297.57
Invalid votes6,8261.86
Blank votes2,0700.56
Total votes366,608100.00
Registered voters/turnout557,83665.72
Source: Ministry of Interior

European

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Main article: 2024 European Parliament election in Cyprus
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Democratic Rally91,31624.7820
Progressive Party of Working People79,16321.491–1
Independent – Fidias Panayiotou71,33019.361New
National Popular Front41,21511.191+1
Democratic Party35,8159.7210
EDEK Socialist Party18,6815.070–1
Volt Cyprus10,7772.9200
Democratic Alignment7,9882.1700
Movement of Ecologists – Citizens' Cooperation4,7421.290New
Movement of Cypriot United Hunters4,6031.250New
Animal Party Cyprus1,0130.2700
National Action Movement9790.270New
Independent – Andronikos Zervides4440.120New
Victory Movement3890.110New
Total368,455100.0060
Source: https://live.elections.moi.gov.cy/

Political pressure groups and leaders

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  1. Cypriot Workers Union (Greek: Συνομοσπονδία Εργατών Κύπρου (Σ.Ε.Κ.))
  2. Union of Cypriots (Greek: Ένωσις Κυπρίων; Turkish: Kıbrıslılar Birliği)
  3. Revolutionary Trade Unions Federation (DEV-İŞ)
  4. Pan-Cyprian Labour Federation or PEO (Greek: Παγκύπρια Εργατική Ομοσπονδία (Π.Ε.Ο.))
  5. Eleftheria Citizens Initiative (Greek: Πρωτοβουλία Πολιτών Ελευθερία)

Administrative divisions

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Map of the Districts in Cyprus
See also: Districts of Cyprus

The island is divided into 6 administrative divisions: Nicosia (Lefkosia), Limassol (Lemesos), Larnaca, Paphos, Famagusta (Ammochostos), and Kyrenia.[d]

Exclaves and enclaves

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Cyprus has four exclaves, all in territory that belongs to the British Sovereign Base Area of Dhekelia. The first two are the villages of Ormidhia and Xylotymvou. Additionally there is the Dhekelia Power Station, which is divided by a British road into two parts. The northern part is an enclave, like the two villages, whereas the southern part is located by the sea and therefore not an enclave —although it has no territorial waters of its own.[45]

The UN buffer zone separating the territory controlled by the Turkish Cypriot administration from the rest of Cyprus runs up against Dhekelia and picks up again from its east side, off of Ayios Nikolaos (connected to the rest of Dhekelia by a thin land corridor). In that sense, the buffer zone turns the south-east corner of the island, the Paralimni area, into a de facto, though not de jure, exclave.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Supported by DIKO, EDEK, DIPA, Solidarity, Active Citizens – United Cypriot Hunters Movement and Animal Party Cyprus
  2. ^ Supported by AKEL and Generation Change
  3. ^ Supported by Famagusta for Cyprus
  4. ^ Occupied area's administrative divisions include Kyrenia, all but a small part of Famagusta (Ammochostos), and small parts of Lefkosia (Nicosia) and Larnaca.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Secretariat Council of Ministers". www.cm.gov.cy. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
  2. ^ a b "Council of Ministers Composition | Προεδρία της Κυπριακής Δημοκρατίας |". www.presidency.gov.cy (in Greek). Retrieved 2024-03-12.
  3. ^ Ltd, DW Dynamic Works. "House of Representatives - Historical review". House of Representatives. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
  4. ^ a b c "Elections: Cyprus Parliament 2021". IFES Election Guide. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
  5. ^ a b c "ΔΗΣΥ: Από τον Κληρίδη σε Δημητρίου, οι κυριότεροι σταθμοί 47 χρόνων". tothemaonline.com (in Greek). Retrieved 2024-07-06.
  6. ^ "Γλαύκος Κληρίδης:Ο «πατέρας» του Δημοκρατικού Συναγερμού". avant-garde.com.cy. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
  7. ^ Nordsieck, Wolfram (2021). "Cyprus". Parties and Elections in Europe.
  8. ^ Slomp, Hans (30 September 2011). Europe, A Political Profile: An American Companion to European Politics. ABC-CLIO. p. 690. ISBN 978-0-313-39182-8. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  9. ^ "Appendix A3: Political Parties" (PDF). European Social Survey (9th ed.). 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-12-31. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  10. ^ "Η κρίση του πολιτικού συστήματος και ο ΔΗΣΥ". simerini.sigmalive.com. Retrieved 2024-09-08.
  11. ^ "Cyprus - Political Parties". Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  12. ^ OmegaLive (2023-03-11). "Εκλογές ΔΗΣΥ: Σαρωτική νίκη Αννίτας - Τα ποσοστά". OmegaLive. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  13. ^ "Cyprus parliament elects first madam speaker". Knews. 10 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  14. ^ Polignosi. "8 Πρόεδροι και 1 Αντιπρόεδρος της Κυπριακής Δημοκρατίας". www.polignosi.com. Retrieved 2024-09-08.
  15. ^ Party, EPP-European People's. "EPP - European People's Party". EPP - European People's Party. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  16. ^ "Κόμματά που ήλθαν, είδαν και απήλθαν". Κόμματά που ήλθαν, είδαν και απήλθαν. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  17. ^ Polignosi. "Νέοι Ορίζοντες". www.polignosi.com. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  18. ^ Polignosi. "Ευρωπαϊκό Κόμμα ΕΥΡΩΚΟ". www.polignosi.com. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  19. ^ "Theocharous leaves DISY, announces new movement (Updated) - Cyprus Mail Cyprus Mail". 2015-11-21. Archived from the original on 2015-11-21. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  20. ^ "Αποχώρησε από το ΔΗΣΥ η ευρωβουλευτής Ελένη Θεοχάρους". ProtoThema (in Greek). 2015-11-20. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  21. ^ "Παραιτήθηκε ο ΥΠΕΞ και διεκδικεί την Προεδρία". Stockwatch - Παράθυρο στην Οικονομία (in Greek). 2022-01-09. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
  22. ^ AlphaNews Live (2022-10-23). Χριστοδουλίδης για Αβέρωφ: "Απαίτησε να παραιτηθώ αλλά δεν θέλω να φτάσουμε στα άκρα". Retrieved 2024-07-14 – via YouTube.
  23. ^ "Κύπρος: Παραιτήθηκε από ΥΠΕΞ ο Νίκος Χριστοδουλίδης – Εκδήλωσε ενδιαφέρον για τις προεδρικές εκλογές | Η ΚΑΘΗΜΕΡΙΝΗ". www.kathimerini.gr. 9 January 2022. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  24. ^ AKEL, AKEL (2014-02-01). "88 χρόνια ΚΚΚ- ΑΚΕΛ". ΑΚΕΛ (in Greek). Retrieved 2024-09-08.
  25. ^ "Annual report 2011" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  26. ^ "Annual report 2010" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  27. ^ Helena Smith, Cyprus gets ready for a communist 'takeover', The Guardian, 2008
  28. ^ Papadakis, Yiannis; Peristianis, Nicos; Welz, Gisela (18 July 2016). Divided Cyprus: Modernity, History, and an Island in Conflict. Indiana University Press. p. 80. ISBN 978-0-253-11191-3. Retrieved 25 October 2020. This is admittedly a rough division that focuses on the largest parties in Cyprus: left-wing AKEL on the Greek Cypriot side...
  29. ^ Uwe Backes, Patrick Moreau, Communist and Post-Communist Parties in Europe, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2008, ISBN 9783525369128, p. 268 ss.
  30. ^ Contemporary Far Left Parties in Europe From Marxism to the Mainstream? Luke March, 2008, P.4
  31. ^ "AKEL". The Left. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  32. ^ "Τα στοιχήματα των κομμάτων του Κέντρου, ο κίνδυνος της χαμένης ψήφου και η σειρά κατάταξης". Τα στοιχήματα των κομμάτων του Κέντρου, ο κίνδυνος της χαμένης ψήφου και η σειρά κατάταξης. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  33. ^ "Cyprus – Political parties". European Election Database. Norwegian Centre for Research Data.
  34. ^ "Appendix A3: Political Parties" (PDF). European Social Survey (9th ed.). 2018.
  35. ^ Athanasiadis, Konstantinos (30 May 2014). "Cyprus: Disapproval through abstention in EU's remotest 'outpost'". In De Sio, Lorenzo; Emanuele, Vincenzo; Maggini, Nicola (eds.). The European Parliament Elections of 2014 (PDF). CISE. p. 164. ISBN 978-88-98012-16-9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  36. ^ Ker-Lindsay, James (2005). "Government, Politics and Accession to the European Union". In Dew, Philip (ed.). Doing Business with the Republic of Cyprus. GMB Publishing. p. 16. ISBN 978-1-905050-54-3.
  37. ^ Neofytos Loizides (2012). Transformations of the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot Right: Right-wing Peace-makers?. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 186. ISBN 9780230338548. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  38. ^ Nathalie Tocci (2007). Greece, Turkey and Cyprus. Oxford University Press. p. 125. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  39. ^ Το ΔΗ.ΚΟ. συνδέεται με την "Προοδευτική Συμμαχία" (in Greek). Nicosia: Democratic Party. 24 September 2013. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  40. ^ Eric Solsten, ed. Cyprus: A Country Study, US Congress
  41. ^ Κόμμα, Δημοκρατικό. "Παπαδόπουλος Νικόλας". Δημοκρατικό Κόμμα (in Greek). Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  42. ^ Philip Dew (2005). Doing Business with the Republic of Cyprus. GMB Publishing Ltd. pp. 16–. ISBN 978-1-905050-54-3.
  43. ^ Christophoros Christophorou (2009). The Evolution of Greek Cypriot Party Politics. The Government and Politics of Cyprus. Peter Lang. p. 90.
  44. ^ Dalites, Frixos (25 June 2023). "Το ΔΗΚΟ ως ρυθμιστικός πυλώνας της Κυβέρνησης – Οι υποψήφιοι για την αντιπροεδρία στον «Φ»". Philenews.
  45. ^ "Cyprus". Archived from the original on 2006-06-29. Retrieved 2006-06-15.

Further reading

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  • James Ker-Lindsay and Hubert Faustmann (eds.) (2009). The Government and Politics of Cyprus. Peter Lang. ISBN 978-3-03911-096-4. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
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