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House of Representatives

Βουλή των Αντιπροσώπων (Greek)
*Temsilciler Meclisi* (Turkish)
House of Representatives ; Βουλή των Αντιπροσώπων (Greek); Temsilciler Meclisi (Turkish)
	Logo of the House of Representatives
Type
Type	Unicameral
History
Founded	1960
Leadership
President	Annita Demetriou, DISY ; since 10 June 2021
Structure
Seats	56
Political groups	Government (16) DIKO (9); DiPa (4); EDEK (3); Opposition (40) DISY (17); AKEL (15); ELAM (3); KOSP (2); Volt Cyprus (1); Independents (2);
Elections
Voting system	Open list proportional representation
Last election	30 May 2021
Next election	On or before May 2026
Meeting place
	House of Representatives, 1402 Nicosia ; Republic of Cyprus
Website
	www.parliament.cy

The House of Representatives (Greek: Βουλή των Αντιπροσώπων Voulī́ tōn Antiprosṓpōn; Turkish: Temsilciler Meclisi) is the national unicameral legislature of the Republic of Cyprus. Members and three observers representing Armenian, Latin, and Maronite Cypriots are elected by proportional representation every five years. 30% of seats are allocated to Turkish Cypriots, but these have been vacant since 1964. The House of Representatives of Cyprus is the only legislature in the European Union within a fully presidential system.

Elections

A general election must be held on the second Sunday of the month immediately preceding the month in which the term of office of the outgoing House expires. The outgoing House continues in office until the newly elected House assumes office, but during this time the outgoing House does not have the power to make any laws or to take any decision on any matter, except in urgent and exceptional unforeseen circumstances.

The House may dissolve itself by its own decision before its term of office expires. When it so decides, it must also specify the date of the general elections which must not be less than 30 or more than 40 days from the date of such decision. In the event of the House dissolving itself it must also specify the date for the first meeting of the newly elected House, which must not be later than fifteen days after the general elections.

Composition

Communities

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. However, since 1964, Turkish Cypriot members have not attended the House, and no elections have been held among the Turkish Cypriot community in accordance with the Republic's constitution. Despite this anomaly, the House has kept vacant the seats allocated to the Turkish Cypriot community. These seats remain at the disposal of Turkish Cypriot Deputies should they be elected according to the constitutional provisions.

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. The decision was dictated by events because of the broadening of the activities of the House and its participation in many international parliamentary organisations; the number of 50 Representatives was not enough for the unhindered functioning of the legislative body and particularly the functioning of the parliamentary committees.

Seats by District

The current electoral law provides for a simple proportional representation system. The number of seats in each constituency is determined by law with constituencies coinciding with administrative districts. Seat allocation for the Greek Cypriot community are as follows:

Districts	Seats
Nicosia	20
Limassol	12
Famagusta	11
Larnaca	6
Paphos	4
Kyrenia	3
	Total: 56

History

The first parliamentary elections were held on 31 July 1960 and the elections for the Communal Chambers on 7 August 1960. They were conducted on the basis of the colonial legislation and in accordance with the majority electoral system. The Constitution stipulated that there should be fifty Representatives, thirty-five Greek (70%), elected by the Greek community, and fifteen Turkish (30%), elected by the Turkish community. The smooth functioning of the newly established House of Representatives was however impeded from the very beginning, due to the weaknesses of the Constitution.

The Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus was a given one, worked out by a composite constitutional committee. Though it safeguards the fundamental freedoms and rights of the citizens, at the same time it comprises divisive elements that from the very outset acted as an impediment to the smooth course and development of the State. That happened for the parliament where the constitution provided the requirement for separate majorities of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot Representatives for any amendment of the electoral law and the adoption of legislation pertaining to the municipalities and the imposition of duties or taxes. Thus, a small number of Turkish Cypriot Representatives had the ability to block decisions pertaining to these matters.

In 1961 the Turkish Cypriot Representatives, making use of this right, voted against the bill for the extension of the taxation law and, subsequently, against the Income Tax Bill, leaving the Republic without pertinent income tax legislation for four years.

Following intercommunal violence, which occurred in December 1963, the fifteen Turkish Cypriot Representatives withdrew from the House and their seats remain vacant to this day. All Turkish Cypriots holding state offices or posts in the civil service also withdrew.

In its subsequent terms of office, the House of Representatives assumed the additional task of collaborating with the executive authority, in order to enact special legislation for the equitable distribution of the burdens emanating from the Turkish invasion and occupation, as well as to take other legislative measures aiming at the island’s economic recovery and the relief of the missing persons’ families and those persons displaced or adversely affected. Ever since it is actively involved, both at local and international levels, in the struggle of the people of Cyprus for a just and viable settlement in the Cyprus dispute.

Last election results



Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Democratic Rally	99,328	27.77	17	–1
	Progressive Party of Working People	79,913	22.34	15	–1
	Democratic Party	40,395	11.29	9	0
	National Popular Front	24,255	6.78	4	+2
	Movement for Social Democracy–Citizens' Alliance	24,022	6.72	4	–2
	Democratic Front	21,832	6.10	4	New
	Movement of Ecologists – Citizens' Cooperation	15,762	4.41	3	+1
	Active Citizens – Movement of Cypriot United Hunters	11,712	3.27	0	New
	Generation Change	10,095	2.82	0	New
	Solidarity Movement	8,254	2.31	0	–3
	Famagusta for Cyprus	5,596	1.56	0	New
	Awakening 2020	4,839	1.35	0	New
	People's Breath	4,585	1.28	0	0
	Animal Party Cyprus	3,593	1.00	0	0
	Patriotic Coalition	376	0.11	0	New
	Independents	3,155	0.88	0	0
Total		357,712	100.00	56	0

Valid votes		357,712	97.57
Invalid votes		6,826	1.86
Blank votes		2,070	0.56
Total votes		366,608	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		557,836	65.72
Source: Ministry of Interior

Presidents of the House of Representatives

The President of the House is Greek Cypriot and is elected by the Representatives elected by the Greek Cypriot community. The Vice-President is constitutionally provided for to be Turkish Cypriot and is elected by the Representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community. In case of temporary absence of the President or Vice-President of the House, their functions are performed by the eldest Representative of the respective community unless the Representatives of that community decide otherwise. Currently, the President of the House is Annita Demetriou.

The following people have been Presidents of the House^[1]