| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Vouli Antiprosopon / House of Representatives |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) |
21 May 2006 |
| Purpose of elections |
Elections were held for the 56 members of the House of Representatives representing the Greek-Cypriot community on the normal expiry of their term of office. |
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.
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. |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 21 May 2006 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
501'024
445'915 (89%)
24'828
421'087 |
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of votes |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Candidates |
Votes |
|
|
% |
Gain/Loss % |
|
| Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL) |
|
131'066 |
|
|
31.13 |
-3.58 |
|
| Democratic Rally (DISY) |
|
127'776 |
|
|
30.34 |
-3.65 |
|
| Democratic Party (DIKO) |
|
75'458 |
|
|
17.92 |
3.08 |
|
| Movement of Social Democrats (EDEK) |
|
37'533 |
|
|
8.91 |
2.40 |
|
| European Party (EK) |
|
24'196 |
|
|
5.75 |
|
|
| Ecologists - Environmentalists Movement |
|
8'193 |
|
|
1.95 |
-0.03 |
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
Gain/Loss |
|
|
|
| Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL) |
18
|
-2 |
|
|
|
| Democratic Rally (DISY) |
18
|
-1 |
|
|
|
| Democratic Party (DIKO) |
11
|
2 |
|
|
|
| Movement of Social Democrats (EDEK) |
5
|
1 |
|
|
|
| European Party (EK) |
3
|
|
|
|
|
| Ecologists - Environmentalists Movement |
1
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
48
8
10.00%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
31 to 40 years
41 to 50 years
51 to 60 years
61 to 70 years
|
2
30
21
3
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
| Legal professions |
17 |
| Medical professions (doctors
dentists
nurses) |
8 |
| Civil/public servants/administrators (including social/development workers) |
6 |
| Business/trade/industry employees
including executives |
5 |
| Economists |
5 |
| Scientists |
4 |
| Educators |
2 |
| Architects |
2 |
| Engineers/PC experts |
2 |
| Liberal professions (including artists
authors) and sports professionals |
2 |
| Media-related professions (journalists/publishers) |
2 |
| Others |
1 |
|
| Comments |
Source: http://www.vouleftikes2006.gov.cy/index.aspx?ci=en-GB
Note on the "Distribution of seats according to sex":
The percentage below is based on the statutory number of 80.
The 2006 elections were held for the 56 members of the House of Representatives elected by the Greek-Cypriot community
of whom eight were women
or 14.29%.
Inter-Parliamentary Group of Cyprus (02.06.2006) |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module
