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Parliamentry
elections
General
Background Information
In
accordance with article 67 of the Constitution
of the Republic of Cyprus, the House of
Representatives may dissolve itself only by its
own decision carried by an absolute majority.
Any such decision must determine the date of
the general elections, which must not be less
than 30 days and not more than 40 days from the
date of the decision. The first meeting of the
new House must not be later than 15 days after
the general elections.
The Electoral
System
In June
1995 the House of Representatives amended the
Electoral Law which provided for reinforced
representation system, The system was replaced
by proportional representation.
First
Distribution
Cyprus
is divided into six constituencies. The first
distribution of seats takes place by
constituency. Seats are allocated to parties
which have managed to obtain the minimum number
of valid votes necessary in a constituency
(electoral threshold). To determine this
threshold the number of valid votes is divided
by the number of seats of each
constituency.
Each party will
win as many seats as the number of times the
electoral threshold will go into the total
number of votes it has received. Example:
Nicosia - 21 seats - total valid votes 126.000
Party A receives 45,000 votes.
To find the
electoral threshold:
|
Valid
Votes
|
126,000
|
 |
|
----------
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= 6,000 Electoral
Threshold |
|
Seats
|
21
|
|
To decide
how many seats Party A
receives:
|
Valid
Votes
|
45,000
|
|
|
----------
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=7 Seats + 3,000 Votes to be used
in the |
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2nd
ElectoralThreshold
|
6000
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distribution to benefit of same
party |
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Second
distrubution
Parties
win a seat in the second distribution if they
have received 1/56 or approx. 1.8% of the votes
islandwide. A coalition of parties needs to
secure 10% of the votes.
Independent
candidates are not allowed, under the law to
participate in the second distribution. For the
second distribution of seats the Republic is
considered as one constituency.
In order to
determine the number of seats to be assigned to
parties in the second distribution, the total
number of unused votes (remainders) of all
parties participating in the second
distribution, are added up. (The unused votes
of the parties which are not entitled to
participate in the second distribution as well
as the unused votes of the independent
candidates,are not taken into account).
The total number
of unused votes is then divided by the number
of seats not unallocated in the first
distribution. The quotient will represent the
electoral threshold for the second
distribution. The total number of unused votes
throughout the island of each party or
coalition of parties taking part in the second
distribution, is summed up and divided by the
electoral theshold. The quotient indicates the
number of seats each party or coalition will
win in the second distribution.
Seats are
distributed as follows:
The Parties are graded according to the number
of unused votes remaining from the first
distribution. This grading will determine the
order in which the parties will be allocated
the seats in the second distribution. Each seat
is allocated to the party or coalition in the
constituency in which it has the highest number
of unused votes and provided seats are
available.
If there are no
available seats in the constituency in which
the party or coalition has the highest number
of unused votes, that party will win a seat in
the constituency in which it has the second
highest number of unused votes.
This is repeated
with the other parties taking part in the
second distribution. The entire procedure is
repeated, with the same order until all seats
are allocated.
The seats in each
constituency are won by those candidates who
have received the highest number of preference
votes.If candidates have an equal number of
preference votes, the seat is assigned
according to the order they appear on the
ballot.
Number of
seats/constituencies
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. The Turkish Cypriot seats
remain vacant since 1964 when the Turkish
Cypriot representatives withdrew from the
House.
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.
Under the
electoral law the Cyprus Republic is divided
into six constituencies. The distribution of
parliamentary seats and the votes of preference
for each constituency as decided by the House,
is as follows:
Seats Votes
of Preference
|
Nicosia |
21
|
6
|
|
Limassol |
12
|
3
|
|
Famagusta |
11
|
3
|
|
Larnaca |
5
|
2
|
|
Paphos |
4
|
1
|
|
Kyrenia |
3
|
1
|
Vacancies arising between general elections
are filled by the unsuccessful candidates of
the same party in the constituency concerned
who received the highest number of preferential
votes after the last successful candidate.
Voting is compulsory, unjustified failure to do
so resulting in a fine and/or
imprisonment.
Voter
requirements:
- age: 18
years
- Cyprus
citizenship
- residence in
the country for at least six months prior to
elections
- disqualifications: insanity,
imprisonment, disfranchisement by court
decision
Eligibility:
Qualified
electors
- age: 25
years
- Cyprus
citizenship
ineligibility:
conviction of an offence involving dishonesty
or moral turpitude, electoral offence
Incompatibilities:
- Minister
- member of
municipal council
- membership of
the armed or security forces
- public or
municipal office
Candidacy
requirements:
- party lists
or individual candidatures
possible
- support of at
least four registered electors
- deposit of
250 Cyprus pounds, reimbursed if candidate
obtains votes equalling at least 1/3 of the
electoral quota
History of
Parliamentary elections
Since
the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus,
there have been a total of eight parliamentary
elections:
- 1960 (31
July)
- 1970 (5
July)
- 1976 (5
September)
- 1981 (24
May)
- 1985 (8
December)
- 1991 (19
May)
- 1996 (26
May)
- 2001 (27
May)
1960
Parliamentary Elections
The 1960 parliamentary elections were contested
by three parties and a number of independent
candidates. The right-wing "Patriot Front" won
30 seats, left-wing AKEL won five seats while
the Pancyprian Union of Fighters did not win
any seats.
No parliamentary
elections were held in 1965 because of the
prevailing intercommunal tension.
1970
Parliamentary Elections
Five
parties contested the 5 July 1970 elections. Three of these, the
Unified Party, the Progressive Front, and the
opposition Democratic National 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:
|
Party |
No of
Seats
|
|
Unified
Party |
15
|
|
AKEL |
9
|
|
Progressive
Front |
7
|
|
EDEK |
2
|
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Independents |
2
|
1976
Parliamentary Elections
The
third parliamentary elections took place on 5
September 1976, two years after the Turkish
invasion. It was contested by the Democratic
Rally, the Democratic Front, socialist EDEK and
left-wing AKEL. The right-wing Democratic Rally
received about 26% of the votes, but due to a
coalition ranged against it, was left with no
Deputies.
The
allocation of seats was as
follows:
|
Party |
No. of
Seats
|
|
Democratic
Front |
21
|
|
AKEL |
9
|
|
EDEK |
4
|
|
Independents |
1
|
In all the above
parliamentary elections, the electoral majority
system was used.
1981
Parliamentary Elections
The
fourth parliamentary elections took place
on 24 May
1981.
The elections were contested by the right-wing
Democratic Rally, the centre Democratic Party,
the New Democratic Front and the Union of
Centre, socialist EDEK and left-wing AKEL and
PAME.
The
allocation of seats was as
follows:
|
Party |
No. of
Seats
|
|
AKEL |
12
|
|
Democratic
Rally |
12
|
|
Democratic
Party |
8
|
|
EDEK |
3
|
In the above
election, a type of proportional system with
threshold was used.
1985
Parliamentary Elections
The
fifth parliamentary elections 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.
|
Party |
No. of
Seats
|
|
Democratic
Rally |
19
|
|
Democratic
Party |
16
|
|
AKEL |
15
|
|
EDEK |
6
|
|
Independents |
0
|
Vassos Lyssarides,
leader of socialist EDEK, was elected House
President. His candidature was supported by his
party and by the Democratic Party.
1991
Parliamentary Elections
The
sixth parliamentary elections took place
on 19 May
1991.
They were contested by the following political
parties or party groupings - the Democratic
Rally Party in coalition with the Liberal
Party, the Democratic Party, the Socialist
Party EDEK, AKEL-Left-New Forces Party and two
new parties the Refugee Movement (PAKOP) and
the Reformed Left (ADISOK), a splinter group
from AKEL.
The results
were as follows:
|
Party |
%
|
No. of
Seats
|
|
|
Democratic Rally -
Liberals |
35,8%
|
20
|
|
|
AKEL-Left- New
Forces |
30,6%
|
18
|
|
|
Democratic
Party |
19,5%
|
11
|
|
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EDEK-Socialist
Party |
10,9%
|
7
|
|
|
ADISOK-New
Left |
2,4%
|
0
|
|
|
PAKOP- Refugee
Movement |
0,6%
|
0
|
|
|
Independent
candidates |
0,2
%
|
0
|
|
Alexis Galanos
(Democratic Party) was elected House President
with the joint votes of the Democratic Party
and the Democratic Rally - Liberals
coalition.
1996
Parliamentary Elections
The
seventh parliamentary elections took place
on 26 May
1996.
They were held under a newly-adopted system of
proportional representation according to which
a party receiving 1/56 of the valid votes or
(1,79%) elected a House member. The new voting
system encouraged the participation of more
parties in the elections. The following
political parties took part in the 1996
elections - the Democratic Rally - Liberal
Party coalition, the New Horizons Party, the
Democratic Party, the Movement of Free
Democrats (of former President Vassiliou), the
Ecologist Movement, the Socialist Party EDEK,
the new Left (ADISOK) and the AKEL-Left-New
Forces Party.
Spyros Kyprianou
was elected House President.
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Election
Information
|
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Registered
voters |
409.996
|
|
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Votes
cast |
381.051
|
92,94%
|
|
|
Valid
votes |
369.521
|
96,97%
|
|
|
Invalid
votes |
5.648
|
1,48%
|
|
|
Blank
votes |
5.882
|
1,54%
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Abstentions |
28.945
|
7,06%
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|
.
|
Party |
Votes
|
%
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Seats
|
|
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ADISOK - New
Left |
5.311
|
1,44
|
-
|
|
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AKEL- Left-New
Forces |
121.958
|
33,00
|
19
|
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DEMOCRATIC
PARTY |
60.726
|
16,43
|
10
|
|
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FREE
DEMOCRATS |
13.623
|
3,69
|
2
|
|
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ECOLOGISTS |
3.710
|
1,00
|
-
|
|
|
NEW
HORIZONS |
6.317
|
1,71
|
-
|
|
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EDEK |
30.033
|
8,13
|
5
|
|
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DEM. RALLY - LIBERAL
PARTY |
127.380
|
34,47
|
20
|
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INDEPENDENTS |
463
|
0,13
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-
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2001
Parliamentary Elections
The
eighth parliamentary elections took place
on 27 May
2001.
They were held under the system of proportional
representation adopted in the 1996 Elections,
according to which a party receiving 1/56 of
the valid votes or (1,79%) elected a House
member. The new voting system encouraged the
participation of more parties in the elections.
The following political parties took part in
the 2001 elections – ADIK (FIGHTING
DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT), AKEL- LEFT-NEW FORCES,
DIKO (DEMOCRATIC PARTY), DISY (DEMOCRATIC
RALLY), EDI (UNITED DEMOCRATS), ECOLOGISTS,
KISOS (SOCIAL DEMOCRATS MOVEMENT), NEW
HORIZONS.
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Island-wide Final
Results
|
|
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Registered
voters |
467,543
|
|
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Abstentions |
38,562
|
8.25%
|
|
|
Votes
cast |
428,981
|
91.75%
|
|
|
Valid
votes |
410,987
|
95.81%
|
|
|
Invalid
votes |
10,188
|
2.37%
|
|
|
Blank
votes |
7,806
|
1.82%
|
|
.
|
Party |
Votes
|
%
|
Seats
|
|
|
ADIK (FIGHTING
DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT) |
8,860
|
2.16
|
1
|
|
|
AKEL- LEFT-NEW
FORCES |
142,648
|
34.71
|
20
|
|
|
DIKO (DEMOCRATIC
PARTY) |
60,986
|
14.84
|
9
|
|
|
DISY (DEMOCRATIC
RALLY) |
139,721
|
34.00
|
19
|
|
|
EDI (UNITED
DEMOCRATS) |
10,635
|
2.59
|
1
|
|
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ECOLOGISTS |
8,129
|
1.98
|
1
|
|
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KISOS (SOCIAL
DEMOCRATS MOVEMENT) |
26,767
|
6.51
|
4
|
|
|
NEW
HORIZONS |
12,333
|
3.00
|
1
|
|
|
INDEPENDENTS |
908
|
0.21
|
-
|
|
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