Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos; note - Turkish area administrative divisions include Kyrenia, all but a small part of Famagusta, and small parts of Nicosia and Larnaca
Independence: 16 August 1960 (from UK) note: Turkish area proclaimed self-rule on NA February 1975 from Republic of Cyprus
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October note: Turkish area celebrates 15 November as Independence Day
Constitution: 16 August 1960; negotiations to create the basis for a new or revised constitution to govern the island and to better relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held intermittently; in 1975 Turkish Cypriots created their own Constitution and governing bodies within the "Turkish Federated State of Cyprus," which was renamed the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" in 1983; a new Constitution for the Turkish area passed by referendum on 5 May 1985
Legal system: based on common law, with civil law modifications
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Glafcos CLERIDES
(since 28 February 1993); election last held 14 February 1993 (next to
be held February 1998); results - Glafkos CLERIDES 50.3%, George
VASSILIOU 49.7%
cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed jointly by the president and
vice-president
note: Rauf R. DENKTASH has been president of the Turkish area since 13
February 1975; Hakki ATUN has been prime minister of the Turkish area
since 1 January 1994; there is a Council of Ministers (cabinet) in the
Turkish area; elections last held 15 and 22 April 1995 (next to be
held April 2000); results - Rauf R. DENKTASH 62.5%, Dervis EROGLU
37.5%
Legislative branch: unicameral
Greek area: House of Representatives (Vouli Antiprosopon): elections
last held 19 May 1991 (next to be held NA); results - DISY 35.8%, AKEL
(Communist) 30.6%, DIKO 19.5%, EDEK 10.9%; others 3.2%; seats - (56
total) DISY 20, AKEL (Communist) 18, DIKO 11, EDEK 7
Turkish area: Assembly of the Republic (Cumhuriyet Meclisi): elections
last held 12 December 1993 (next to be held NA); results - UBP 29.9%,
DP 29.2%, CTP 24.2% TKP 13.3%, others 3.4%; seats - (50 total) UBP
(conservative) 15, DP 16, CTP 13, TKP 5, UDP 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; note - there is also a Supreme Court
in the Turkish area
Political parties and leaders:
Greek area: Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL, Communist
Party), Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS; Democratic Rally (DISY), John MATSIS;
Democratic Party (DIKO), Spyros KYPRIANOU; United Democratic Union of
the Center (EDEK), Vassos LYSSARIDIS; Socialist Democratic Renewal
Movement (ADISOK), Mikhalis PAPAPETROU; Liberal Party, Nikos ROLANDIS;
Free Democrats, George VASSILIOU
Turkish area: National Unity Party (UBP), Dervis EROGLU; Communal
Liberation Party (TKP), Mustafa AKINCI; Republican Turkish Party
(CTP), Ozker OZGUR; New Cyprus Party (YKP), Alpay DURDURAN; Free
Democratic Party (HDP), Ismet KOTAK; National Justice Party (MAP),
Zorlu TORE; Unity and Sovereignty Party (BEP), Arif Salih KIRDAG;
Democratic Party (DP), Hakki ATUN; Fatherland Party (VP), Orhan UCOK;
National Birth Party (UDP); the HDP, MAP, and VP merged under the
label National Struggle Unity Party (MMBP) to compete in the 12
December 1993 legislative election