PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND RESULTS

Six parliamentary elections have taken place - in 1960, 1970, 1976, 1981,1985 and 1991 since the establishment of the Republic.


1960

The 1960 parliamentary elections were contested by three parties and a number of independent candidates. The right-wing "Patriot Front" fielded candidates in all six districts while left-wing AKEL contested three districts and the Pancyprian Union of Fighters two.

1960 Results
Eligible voters: 216,310
Valid Votes: 147,740
PartyVotes Seats
Patriotic Front82,888 28
AKEL51,719 7
Pancyprian Union
of Fighters
5,397 0
Independents7,736 0


1965

No parliamentary elections were held in 1965 because of the prevailing intercommunal tension.


1970

Five parties contested the 5 July 1970 elections. Three of these, the Unified Party, the Progressive Front, and the opposition Democratic Nationalist Party, were right-wing, one, the Unified Democratic Union of Centre (EDEK), of the centre and the other, AKEL, left-wing.

The allocation of seats was as follows:

1970 Results
PartySeats
Unified Party15
AKEL9
Progressive Front7
EDEK2
Independents2


1976

The third parliamentary elections took place on 5 September 1976, two years after the Turkish invasion. It was contested by the Democratic Party of the centre, socialist EDEK and left-wing AKEL and an independent candidate, Tassos Papadopoulos. The right-wing Democratic Rally received 26% of the votes, but due to a coalition ranged against it, was left with no Deputies.

The allocation of seats was as follows:

1976 Results
PartySeats
Democratic Party21
AKEL9
EDEK4
Independents1

In all the above parliamentary elections, the electoral majority system was used.


1981

The fourth parliamentary election took place on 24 May 1981. The elections were contested by the right-wing Democratic Rally, the centre Democratic Rally, the centre Democratic Party, the New Progressive Front and the Unlon of Centre, socialist EDEK and left-wing AKEL and PAME .

The allocation of seats was as follows:

1981 Results
PartySeats
AKEL12
Democratic Rally11
Democratic Party9
EDEK3


1985

The fifth parliamentary election took place on 8 December 1985. Following a law passed by the House of Representatives the number of seats allocated to the Greek Cypriot community was increased from 35 to 56. The number of Turkish Cypriot seats was raised from 15 to 24.

The elections were contested by four parties - the right-wing Democratic Rally, the centre Democratic Party, the socialist EDEK and left-wing AKEL - as well as independent candidates.

1985 Results
Eligible voters:346,456
Valid ballot papers: 319,467
PartyVotes Percentage, % Seats
Democratic Rally107,223 33.5619
Democratic Party88,322 27.6516
AKEL87,628 27.4315
EDEK35,371 11.076
Independents923 0.290

Vassos Lyssarides, leader of socialist EDEK, was elected House President. His candidature was supported by his party and by the Democratic Party.


1991

The sixth parliamentary election took place on 19 May 1991.

1991 Results
Total number of registered voters:381,317
Votes Percentage, %
Votes cast354,618 92.0
Abstention30,581 8.0
Invalid votes12,597 3.6
Valid votes342,021 96.4

1991 Final Results
Party Votes Percentage,
%
Seats +/-
%(1985)
+/-
Seats(1985)
DEMOCRATIC RALLY-
LIBERALS
122,482 35.820 +2.2+1
AKEL-
Left-New Forces
104,772 30.618 +3.1+3
DEMOCRATIC PARTY66,684 19.511 -8.1-5
EDEK-
Socialist Party
37,256 10.97 -0.2+1
ADISOK-
New Left
8,200 2.40 +2.4(-5)*
PAKOP
(Refugee Movement)
1,892 0.60 +0.60
Independent Candidates555 0.20 00

* The five ADISOK deputies defected from AKEL in March 1990


1991 Final Distribution Of Seats (By District)
DISTRICT SEATS DISY-L AKEL DIKO EDEK ADISOK PAKOP
NICOSIA 21 8 5 4 4 0 0
LIMASSOL 12 4 4 3 1 0 0
FAMAGUSTA 11 4 5 1 1 0 0
LARNACA 5 2 2 1 0 0 0
PAPHOS 4 1 1 1 1 0 0
KYRENIA 3 1 1 1 0 0 0


NICOSIA DISTRICT

1991 Results - Nicosia District
Registered voters:142,062
Votes Percentage, %
Votes cast131,074 91.4
Abstention12,269 8.6
Invalid votes4,338 3.3
Valid votes126,736 96.7

Party Votes Percentage,
%
Seats +/-
%(1985)
+/-
Seats(1985)
DEMOCRATIC RALLY-
LIBERALS
45,928 36.28 +1.7+1
AKEL-
Left-New Forces
34,267 27.05 +3.00
DEMOCRATIC PARTY24,944 19.74 -8.1-2
EDEK-
Socialist Party
16,144 12.74 -0.5+1
ADISOK-
New Left
4,241 3.30 +3.30
PAKOP
(Refugee Movement)
980 0.80 +0.80
Independent Candidates232 0.20 00


LIMASSOL DISTRICT

1991 Results - Limassol District
Registered voters:79,368
Votes Percentage, %
Votes cast74,904 93.4
Valid votes72,117 96.3

PartyVotes Percentage, %Seats
Democratic Rally24,056 33.44
AKEL23,194 32.24
Democratic Party16,761 23.23
EDEK6,568 9.11
ADISOK1,215 1.70
Independent Candidate323 0.40


FAMAGUSTA DISTRICT

1991 Results - Famagusta District
Registered voters:74,858
Votes Percentage, %
Votes cast70,006 92.4
Valid votes67,235 96.0

PartyVotes Percentage, %Seats
Democratic Rally27,911 41.54
AKEL24,315 36.25
Democratic Party8,531 12.71
EDEK4,557 6.81
ADISOK1,368 2.00
Independent Candidate553 0.80


LARNACA DISTRICT

1991 Results - Larnaca District
Registered voters:35,026
Votes Percentage, %
Votes cast32,712 92.5
Valid votes31,540 96.4

PartyVotes Percentage, %Seats
Democratic Rally11,931 37.82
AKEL11,199 35.52
Democratic Party5,092 16.11
EDEK2,834 9.00
ADISOK484 1.50


PAPHOS DISTRICT

1991 Results - Paphos District
Registered voters:29,994
Votes Percentage, %
Votes cast27,691 90.4
Valid votes26,723 96.5

PartyVotes Percentage, %Seats
Democratic Rally7,628 28.51
AKEL6,032 22.61
Democratic Party7,256 27,21
EDEK5,261 19.71
ADISOK546 2.00


KYRENIA DISTRICT

1991 Results - Kyrenia District
Registered voters:20,009
Votes Percentage, %
Votes cast18,230 90.5
Valid votes17,670 96.9

PartyVotes Percentage, %Seats
Democratic Rally5,028 28.51
AKEL5,765 32.61
Democratic Party4,280 24,21
EDEK1,892 10.70
ADISOK346 2.00
PAKOP359 2.00