2023-Cyprus-Country-Report

CYPRUSCOUNTRY REPORT 2023
Colonised by the
ancient Greeks in
1400 BC, Cyprus has had
a succession of foreign
rulers through the
centuries, including the
Romans, the Byzantines,
the Franks and the
Venetians, whose 300-
year rule ended in 1571
when the island became
part of the Ottoman
Empire. After almost 250
years of Ottoman rule,
Cyprus was placed under
British administration in
1878. The island finally
became independent in
1960 after a protracted
and violent struggle
against the colonial power
between 1955 and 1959.
After lengthy negotiations,
Britain, Greece and Turkey
drafted a constitution for
the new state, along with
Treaties of Guarantee and
Alliance. The Republic of
Cyprus came into being in
August 1960.
FROM FOREIGN RULE TO THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS
Nikos Christodoulides – President of the Republic of Cyprus
CONSTITUTION,
INSTITUTIONS AND
ADMINISTRATION
The 1960 constitution provided for power
sharing between the Greek Cypriot and
Turkish Cypriot communities. Votes
on important issues required separate
parliamentary majorities, and the Greek
Cypriot president and the Turkish Cypriot
vice president both had the right of veto
on important decisions. The system of government is presidential, with the separation of powers
between the executive and the legislature. Presidential elections are held every five years, with
the next presidential election due in February 2028. Ministers, who are appointed by the president,
cannot hold seats in the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives is elected by
proportional representation. Its normal term is five years.
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