| Marios Garoyian ( M) |
| Socrates Socratous (a.i.) ( M) |
- 56 directly elected by Greek-Cypriot community
- 24 directly elected by Turkish-Cypriot community (currently vacant)
NICOSIA
Tel.: (3572) 240 73 00
Fax: (3572) 266 86 11
E-mail: international-relations@parliament.cy
s.g@parliament.cy
Cable: Comparlas, Nicosia
| http://www.parliament.cy |
Voters first select the list of a single party (or coalition of parties or a single independent candidate) and then, within the list, can mark one preference for every four seats to be filled in their constituency.
In the case of constituencies having fewer than three seats, only one preference can be marked. Party leaders or other candidates heading coalitions do not require a preference mark to be elected.
Seats are distributed among lists within each constituency by dividing the total number of votes cast for each list by the electoral quota (the largest remainder method using Hare quota). The remaining seats are distributed among the parties or coalitions of parties that won at least one seat in any constituency pursuant to the first distribution or, for single parties, at least 1.8 per cent of all valid votes cast throughout the island (for coalitions of 2 or more parties, the applicable figures are 10 and 20 per cent, respectively). Notwithstanding the above, 3.6 per cent of the total number of votes cast are required for lists of single parties participating in the second distribution to be entitled to a second seat.
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 vote is punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment.
- Cyprus citizenship, including naturalized citizens
- residence in the country for at least six months prior to the elections
- citizens overseas cannot vote
- disqualifications: insanity, imprisonment, disfranchisement by court decision
- age: 25
- Cyprus citizenship
- there is no residence requirement
- ineligibilities: conviction of an offence involving dishonesty or immorality, electoral offence
- mayor
- member of a municipal council
- member of the armed or security forces
- public or municipal office
- support of at least four registered electors, approved by the candidate
- deposit of 250 Cyprus pounds, reimbursed if the candidate obtains votes equalling at least 1/3 of the electoral quota
Also available:
Archive of past election results for this chamber
In the last elections held in 2001, the communist Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL) won 20 of the 56 seats and its main coalition partner, the centrist Democratic Party (DIKO), took nine. The right-wing opposition, Democratic Rally (DISY), took 19 seats.
The country's reunification remained the main issue in the 2006 elections. Despite differences with the United Nations' plan, all political parties said they were ready for new talks on reunification.
In all, 10 political parties and groups and 487 candidates contested the 2006 elections, including one Turkish Cypriot candidate representing the left-wing United Democrats (EDI). For the first time since 1963, Turkish Cypriots living in the Greek-controlled part of the country were allowed to vote and stand for election. A total of 500,000 people registered to vote, of whom 270 were Turkish Cypriots. In all, 89 per cent of registered voters turned out at the polls, down by a mere 1.5 per cent compared to the last elections.
The AKEL lost two seats, down to 18, while DIKO obtained two more seats, winning 11. The main opposition, DISY, lost one seat, and now has as many representatives as AKEL. In all, the ruling forces, comprising AKEL, DIKO, the Movement of Social Democrats (EDEK), the newly-established European Party (EK), and the Ecologists - Environmentalists Movement, took 38 of the 56 seats. EDI failed to reach the minimum 1.8 per cent threshold required to win a parliamentary seat.
The newly-elected House of Representatives held its first session on 1 June 2006 and re-elected Mr. Demetris Christofias of AKEL as its Speaker.
| Round no 1 (21 May 2006): Election results | ||||
| Number of registered electors | 501'024 | |||
| Voters | 445'915 (89%) | |||
| Blank or invalid ballot papers | 24'828 | |||
| Valid votes | 421'087 | |||
| Round no 1: Distribution of votes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political Group | Candidates | Votes | % of votes | Gain/Loss % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL) | 131'066 | 31.13 | -3.58 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Democratic Rally (DISY) | 127'776 | 30.34 | -3.65 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Democratic Party (DIKO) | 75'458 | 17.92 | 3.08 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Movement of Social Democrats (EDEK) | 37'533 | 8.91 | 2.40 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| European Party (EK) | 24'196 | 5.75 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ecologists - Environmentalists Movement | 8'193 | 1.95 | -0.03 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Round no 1: Distribution of seats | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political Group | Total of seats | Gain/Loss | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL) | 18 | -2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Democratic Rally (DISY) | 18 | -1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Democratic Party (DIKO) | 11 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Movement of Social Democrats (EDEK) | 5 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| European Party (EK) | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ecologists - Environmentalists Movement | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Note on the "Distribution of seats according to sex":
The percentage below is based on the statutory number of 80.
The 2006 elections were held for the 56 members of the House of Representatives elected by the Greek-Cypriot community, of whom eight were women, or 14.29%.
Inter-Parliamentary Group of Cyprus (02.06.2006)
| 31 to 40 years | 2 |
| 41 to 50 years | 30 |
| 51 to 60 years | 21 |
| 61 to 70 years | 3 |
| Legal professions | 17 | |
| Medical professions (doctors, dentists, nurses) | 8 | |
| Civil/public servants/administrators (including social/development workers) | 6 | |
| Business/trade/industry employees, including executives | 5 | |
| Economists | 5 | |
| Scientists | 4 | |
| Educators | 2 | |
| Architects | 2 | |
| Engineers/PC experts | 2 | |
| Liberal professions (including artists, authors) and sports professionals | 2 | |
| Media-related professions (journalists/publishers) | 2 | |
| Others | 1 |
- reasons for interruption of the term: written resignation, conviction of an offence involving dishonesty or moral turpitude, being disqualified by a competent court for any electoral offence, holder of another public office - death
- for the 1st ballot, 50% + 1 of those present and voting is required - for the second, 40% - for the third, the candidate who receives the largest number of votes is elected
- the presiding officer supervises the voting
- the presiding officer announces the results without any delay
- the results may be challenged
- represents the House with the public authorities
- represents the House in international bodies
- may preside over any committee, is ex officio president of the Committee of Selection
- in the absence of the President of the House, the most senior Representative can assume his/her role and functions
+ expense allowance
- official car
- secretariat + additional staff
- police protection
- establishes and modifies the agenda
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time, within the limits of the Constitution and Rules of Procedure
- refers texts to a committee for study
- may propose the setting up of committees of enquiry
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- may make announcements concerning the House
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak
- establishes the order in which amendments are taken up and selects which amendments are to be debated, in conformity with the Rules of Procedure
- calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities, in conformity with the Rules of Procedure
- checks the quorum
- authenticates the adopted texts and the records of debates
- may have discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates
- organizes the services of Parliament
Others powers :
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Chamber
- provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion
- in practice, takes no part in voting, but may vote if so he/she so wishes
- proposes bills or amendments
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure
· Procedure:
· Procedure (see Art. 71 (b) of the Constitution): submission of the written resignation to the President of the House
· Authority competent to accept the resignation: the resignation does not need to be accepted
(b) Loss of mandate for incompatibilities (Art. 71 (d) in connection with Art. 70 of the Constitution)
(c) Death (Art. 71 (a) of the Constitution)
1. The President
2. The Party Leaders, according to the number of seats held by the party
3. The Party Parliamentary Spokesmen
4. The Chairmen of Parliamentary Committees
5. The other MPs, according to the length of their term of office in the House
· Outside Parliament (Official Protocol of the Republic): the official order of precedence ranks the President of the House of Represen-tatives in the 3rd position, the Leaders or Representatives of politi-cal parties represented in the House in the 4th position, Party Par-liamentary Spokesmen in the 9th position, former Presidents of the House in the 10th position, and the other MPs in the 11th position.
Basic salary (see Art. 84 of the Constitution): CYP 1,000 per month + Representation Allowance: CYP 600 per month
· Total exemption from tax
· Pension scheme (Pensions (President and Vice-President of the Republic, President and Vice-President of the House of Represen-tatives, Ministers and Members of the House of Representatives) Law of 1980)
· Other facilities:
(a) Secretariat: Secretariat Allowance: CYP 300 per month
(b) Assistants (Art. 72 (4) of the Constitution, Rules 7, 9, and 10 of the Rules of Procedure)
(c) Security guards for the President of the House and the Party Leaders, in special cases also for other MPs if circumstances make them necessary
(d) Travel and transport
· Parliamentary non-accountability is limited to words spoken or written by MPs and votes cast within Parliament.
· Derogations: matters sub judice (Rule 28 of the Rules of Proce-dure), re-examination of any matter on which the House expressed an opinion during the current session (Rule 29 of the Rules of Pro-cedure), offence or insult (Art. 73 (9) of the Constitution, Rule 36 (c), in connection with Rule 8 (2) (b), and Rule 58 of the Rules of Procedure, see Discipline)
· Non-accountability takes effect on the day when the mandate be-gins and offers, after the expiry of the mandate, protection against prosecution for opinions expressed during the exercise of the man-date.
· It applies to criminal and civil proceedings, covers all offences and protects MPs from arrest and from being held in preventive cus-tody, from the opening of judicial proceedings against them and from their homes being searched.
· Derogations: in cases of flagrante delicto, when the MP is taken in committing an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for five years or more, the MP can be arrested. Procedure (Art. 83 (2) of the Constitution).
· Parliamentary inviolability does not prevent MPs from being called as witnesses before a judge or tribunal.
· Parliamentary immunity (inviolability) can be lifted (Art. 83 (2) of the Constitution):
- Competent authority: the High Court
- Procedure (Art. 83 (3) and (4) of the Constitution). In this case, MPs need not be heard. They do have means of appeal.
· Parliament cannot subject the prosecution and/or detention to cer-tain conditions.
· Parliament cannot suspend the prosecution and/or detention of one of its members.
· Handbook of parliamentary procedure:
- Rules of Procedure of the House of Representatives of the Repub-lic of Cyprus
· Penalties foreseen in case of failure to fulfil this obligation (Rules 15 and 19 of the Rules of Procedure): forfeiture of the right to re-ceive (the whole/half of the/a third of the) monthly Representation Allowance
· Body competent to judge such cases/to impose penalties (Rules 16 to 18 of the Rules of Procedure): the Rules Observing Committee
· Disciplinary measures foreseen:
- Warning for irrelevance (Rule 8 (2) (b) and 27 of the Rules of Procedure)
- Call to order (Rule 8 (2) (b) of the Rules of Procedure)
· Specific cases:
- Offence or insult (Art. 73 (9) of the Constitution, Rule 36 (c) in connection with Rule 8 (2) (b), and Rule 58 of the Rules of Proce-dure): call to order, refusal to allow the expounding of proposals framed with improper expressions, refusal to put those proposals to the vote
· Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties (Rule 8 (2) (a) and 10 of the Rules of Procedure):
- Warning for irrelevance, call to order (Rule 8 (2) (b) of the Rules of Procedure): the President
- Offence or insult: the President, the House of Representatives
The administrative clerks see that all directions of the President are carried out.
· Procedure:
- Warning for irrelevance (Rule 8 (2) (b) and 27 of the Rules of Procedure)
- Call to order (Rule 8 (2) (b) of the Rules of Procedure)
- Offence or insult (Art. 73 (9) of the Constitution, Rule 36 (c) in connection with Rule 8 (2) (b), and Rule 58 of the Rules of Proce-dure)
· Penalties foreseen for violation of the rules of conduct: loss of mandate (Art. 71 (d) in connection with Art. 70 of the Constitution; incompatibilities)
· Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties:
· Procedure
Also available:
Archive of past election results for this chamber
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Last Elections | Presidency of the Parliament | Parliamentary Mandate | Parliamentary Oversight
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