2006 Parliamentary Election
Parliamentary elections took place in May 2006. The first parliamentary elections since the rejection of the United Nations-endorsed reunification plan were held on 21 May 2006. Elections took place for the 56 seats allocated to the Greek Cypriot community in the House of Representatives. The Turkish Cypriot community withdrew from the institutions of central government in 1963 and its 24 seats remain vacant. At the April 2004 referendum 75.8 per cent of Greek Cypriots rejected the reunification plan while 64.9 per cent of Turkish Cypriots supported it.
In the last elections held in 2001 the communist Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL) won 20 of the 56 seats and its main coalition partner the centrist Democratic Party (DIKO) took nine. The right-wing opposition Democratic Rally (DISY) took 19 seats. The country's reunification remained the main issue in the 2006 elections. Despite differences with the United Nations' plan all political parties said they were ready for new talks on reunification.
These elections in this strongly presidential system did not seem to be about anything in particular and there was no sense of something important at stake. In large part, this was a function of the lack of settlement activity, which was the animating issue that gives energy to political campaigns in Cyprus. AKEL emerged the leading party, garnering 31% of votes cast, with DISY a close second with 30%; each was represented by 18 members of parliament (MPs). Other parties represented in parliament include DIKO (11 seats), EDEK (5), EUROKO (3) and the Greens (1). In February 2008, Demetris Christofias defeated incumbent Tassos Papadopoulos and challenger Ioannis Kassoulides in two rounds of voting to become the first AKEL president of the Republic of Cyprus. All major parties hold seats in the National Council, the top advisory board to the president on Cyprus settlement issues.
Parliamentary elections took place in May 2011. DISY emerged the leading party, garnering 34.3% of votes cast and was represented by 20 members of parliament (MPs), with AKEL finishing a close second with 32.7% and 19 MPs. Other parties represented in parliament include DIKO (9 seats), EDEK (5), EUROKO (2) and the Greens (1).
In all 10 political parties and groups and 487 candidates contested the 2006 elections including one Turkish Cypriot candidate representing the left-wing United Democrats (EDI). For the first time since 1963 Turkish Cypriots living in the Greek-controlled part of the country were allowed to vote and stand for election. A total of 500 000 people registered to vote of whom 270 were Turkish Cypriots. In all 89 per cent of registered voters turned out at the polls down by a mere 1.5 per cent compared to the last elections. The AKEL lost two seats down to 18 while DIKO obtained two more seats winning 11. The main opposition DISY lost one seat and now has as many representatives as AKEL. In all the ruling forces comprising AKEL DIKO the Movement of Social Democrats (EDEK) the newly-established European Party (EK) and the Ecologists - Environmentalists Movement took 38 of the 56 seats. EDI failed to reach the minimum 1.8 per cent threshold required to win a parliamentary seat.
The newly-elected House of Representatives held its first session on 1 June 2006 and re-elected Mr. Demetris Christofias of AKEL as its Speaker.
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