Independence: 16 August 1960 (from UK)
note: Turkish Cypriot area proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975
from Republic of Cyprus
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October; note—Turkish
Cypriot 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 Cypriot 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: President Glafcos CLERIDES (since 28 February 1993);
note—the president is both the chief of state and head of
government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the
1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot
head of government: President Glafcos CLERIDES (since 28 February
1993); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of
government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the
1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed jointly by the president and
vice president
elections: president elected by popular vote for five-year terms;
election last held 15 February 1998 (next to be held NA February
2003)
election results: Glafcos CLERIDES elected president; percent of
vote—Glafcos CLERIDES 50.8%, George IAKOVOU 49.2%
note: Rauf R. DENKTASH has been "president" of the Turkish Cypriot
area since 13 February 1975 ("president" elected by popular vote for
a five-year term); elections last held 15 and 22 April 1995 (next to
be held NA April 2000); results—Rauf R. DENKTASH 62.5%, Dervis
EROGLU 37.5%; Dervis EROGLU has been "prime minister" of the Turkish
Cypriot area since 16 August 1996; there is a Council of Ministers
(cabinet) in the Turkish Cypriot area
Legislative branch: unicameral—Greek Cypriot area: House of
Representatives or Vouli Antiprosopon (80 seats; 56 assigned to the
Greek Cypriots. 24 to Turkish Cypriots; note—only those assigned to
Greek Cypriots are filled; members are elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms); Turkish Cypriot area: Assembly of the
Republic or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Greek area: last held 26 May 1996 (next to be held May
2001); Turkish area: last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held
December 2003)
election results: Greek area: House of Representatives—percent of
vote by party—DISY 34.5%, AKEL (Communist) 33.0%, DIKO 16.4%, EDEK
8.1%, KED 3.7%, others 4.3%; seats by party—DISY 20, AKEL
(Communist) 19, DIKO 10, EDEK 5, KED 2; Turkish area: Assembly of
the Republic—percent of vote by party—UBP 40.3%, DP 22.6%, TKP
15.4%, CTP 13.4%, UDP 4.6%, YBH 2.5%, BP 1.2%; seats by party—UBP
24, DP 13, TKP 7, CTP 6
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
Supreme Council of Judicature
note: there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish Cypriot area
Political parties and leaders: Greek Cypriot area: Restorative
PERDHIKIS]; Turkish Cypriot area: National Unity Party or UBP
Political pressure groups and leaders: Pan-Cyprian Labor
Federation or PEO (Communist controlled); Confederation of Cypriot
Workers or SEK (pro-West); Federation of Turkish Cypriot Labor
Unions or Turk-Sen; Confederation of Revolutionary Labor Unions or
Dev-Is