House of Representatives of Cyprus - Revision history

Irlandos: /* Speakers of the House of Representatives */

2008-03-06T12:42:47Z

Speakers of the House of Representatives

Irlandos: /* Speakers of the House of Representatives */

2008-02-26T13:14:34Z

Speakers of the House of Representatives

Irlandos: /* Speakers of the House of Representatives */

2008-01-15T08:09:30Z

Speakers of the House of Representatives

Irlandos: /* Presidents of the House of Representatives */

2008-01-15T08:09:07Z

Presidents of the House of Representatives

Irlandos: /* Presidents of the House of Representatives */

2008-01-14T16:56:25Z

Presidents of the House of Representatives

Irlandos: /* Presidents of the House of Representatives */

2008-01-14T16:54:57Z

Presidents of the House of Representatives

Irlandos: /* Seats via District */

2008-01-14T16:51:18Z

Seats via District

Irlandos at 09:43, September 21, 2006

2006-09-21T09:43:48Z

New page

{{Politics of Cyprus}}
The '''House of Representatives''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: Βουλή των Αντιπροσώπων; ''Vouli Antiprosópon; Turkish:''Temsilciler Meclisi'') is the parliament of [[Cyprus]]. It has 59 members elected for a five year term, 56 members by proportional representation and 3 observer members representing the Maronite, Latin and Armenian minorities. 24 seats are allocated to the Turkish community.

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

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.

The President of the House is a Greek-Cypriot and is elected by the Representatives elected by the Greek-Cypriot community and a Vice-President is constitutionally provided for to be a 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 the respective community decide otherwise. Currently the President of the House is [[Dimitris Christofias]] who is also [[AKEL]] General Secretary.

The first [[Elections in Cyprus|parliamentary elections]] were held on [[July 31]], [[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 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. According to this latter provision, a small minority of Turkish Cypriot Representatives has the right to overturn the decision of the majority.

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 of Cyprus|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 of the Cyprus problem.

==Seats via 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 [[Cyprus#Administration|administrative districts]]. Seat allocation for the Greek Cypriot community are as follows:

{|-
!style="background-color:#E9E9E9" align=left valign=top|Districts
!style="background-color:#E9E9E9" align=right|Seats
|-
|[[Nicosia province|Nicosia]]
|align="right" |21
|-
|[[Limassol province|Limassol]]
|align="right" |12
|-
|[[Famagusta province|Famagusta]]
|align="right" |11
|-
|[[Larnaca province|Larnaca]]
|align="right" |5
|-
|[[Paphos province|Paphos]]
|align="right" |4
|-
|[[Kyrenia province|Kyrenia]]
|align="right" |3
|-
|style="background-color:#E9E9E9"|Total:
|width="75" align="right" style="background-color:#E9E9E9"|56
|-
|}

{{Credit wikipedia}}

[[Category:Government of Cyprus]]
[[Category:National legislatures|Cyprus]]

@@ Line 139: / Line 139: @@
 |[[Dimitris Christofias]]
 |[[June 7]] [[2001]]
 | Present
-| President-elect; A new speaker will be replacing him
 |}

@@ Line 132: / Line 132: @@
 |[[Spyros Kyprianou]]
 |[[June 6]] [[1996]]
-| [[2001]]
+|[[June 7]] [[2001]]
 |Second term as Speaker
 |-
@@ Line 138: / Line 138: @@
+|
 |[[Dimitris Christofias]]
-|[[2001]]
+|[[June 7]] [[2001]]
 | Present
-| Incumbent Speaker
+| President-elect; A new speaker will be replacing him
 |}

@@ Line 83: / Line 83: @@
 |[[Glafkos Clerides]]
 |[[December 7]] [[1974]]
-|[[July]] [[1976]]
+|[[July 22]] [[1976]]
 |Resumed Office after the return of [[Makarios III|Makarios]]
 |-

@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
 |}
-==Presidents of the House of Representatives==
+==Speakers of the House of Representatives==
 {| class="wikitable"
@@ Line 69: / Line 69: @@
 |[[Glafkos Clerides]]
 |[[August 16]] [[1960]]
-|July [[1974]]
+|[[July 23]] [[1974]]
 |In July 1974, became acting President of Cyprus
 |-
@@ Line 75: / Line 75: @@
+|
 |[[Tasos Papadopoulos]]
-|July [[1974]]
+|[[July 23]] [[1974]]
 |[[December 7]] [[1974]]
-|Temporary President
+|Temporary Speaker
 |-
+|
@@ Line 133: / Line 133: @@
 |[[June 6]] [[1996]]
 | [[2001]]
+|Second term as Speaker
 |-
+|
@@ Line 140: / Line 140: @@
 |[[2001]]
 | Present
-| Incumbent President
+| Incumbent Speaker
 |}

@@ Line 70: / Line 70: @@
 |[[August 16]] [[1960]]
 |July [[1974]]
-|First President of the House; in July 1974, became acting President
+|In July 1974, became acting President of Cyprus
 |-
+|
@@ Line 84: / Line 84: @@
 |[[December 7]] [[1974]]
 |[[July]] [[1976]]
-|Resumed Office
+|Resumed Office after the return of [[Makarios III|Makarios]]
 |-
+|

@@ Line 63: / Line 63: @@
 ! width="10%"|'''Took Office'''
 ! width="10%"|'''Left Office'''
-! width="18%"|''' Party'''
+! width="18%"|''' Notes'''
 |-
+|
@@ Line 70: / Line 70: @@
 |[[August 16]] [[1960]]
 |July [[1974]]
+|First President of the House; in July 1974, became acting President
 |-
+|
+|
 |[[Tasos Papadopoulos]]
-|[[July]] [[1974]]
+|July [[1974]]
 |[[December 7]] [[1974]]
+|Temporary President
 |-
+|
@@ Line 84: / Line 84: @@
 |[[December 7]] [[1974]]
 |[[July]] [[1976]]
+|Resumed Office
 |-
+|
@@ Line 98: / Line 98: @@
 |[[September 20]] [[1976]]
 |[[September 3]] [[1977]]
-|[[DIKO]]
+|Assumed the Presidency of Cyprus in 1977 after [[Makarios III|Makarios']] death
 |-
+|
@@ Line 105: / Line 105: @@
 |[[September 3]] [[1977]]
 |[[June 4]] [[1981]]
-|[[DIKO]]
 |-
+|
@@ Line 119: / Line 119: @@
 |[[December 30]] [[1985]]
 |[[May 30]] [[1991]]
-|[[EDEK]]
 |-
+|
@@ Line 133: / Line 133: @@
 |[[June 6]] [[1996]]
 | [[2001]]
-|[[DIKO]]
 |-
+|
@@ Line 140: / Line 140: @@
 |[[2001]]
 | Present
-|[[AKEL]]
+| Incumbent President
 |}

@@ Line 52: / Line 52: @@
 |width="75" align="right" style="background-color:#E9E9E9"|56
 |-
 |}