Chamber:
	Vouli Antiprosopon
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	26 May 1996
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for the 56 members of Parliament representing the Greek-Cypriot community on the normal expiry of their term of office.
Background and outcome of elections:
	A total of 413 candidates from eight parties contested the 56 seats of the Greek-Cypriot community in the 1996 elections. The House of Representatives' remaining 24 seats, set aside for the Turkish-Cypriot community, have been vacant since 1964, when the members withdrew. Once again, the main parties in contention were the ruling Democratic Rally (DISY) of President of the Republic Glafkos Clerides; its coalition partner the Democratic Party (DIKO); the Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL), led by Mr. Demetris Christofias; and the EDEK Socialist Party. During the campaign, all these groups agreed on the search for a solution to the "national issue" based on the High Level Agreements of 1977 and 1979 and the United Nations pertinent resolutions on Cyprus, calling for respect of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country; the establishment of a federal, bizonal, bicommunal Republic; and the withdrawal of all foreign military troops from the island. The disagreements between the parties resided mostly on different ways and means of dealing with the question. This issue was, however, strangely muted and overshadowed by that of Cyprus' entry into the European Union, sought since 1990 and which the Greek-Cypriot community favoured before reunification. All contending parties were in favour of joining the E.U. and supported the position that accession would offer peace in the region and create social and economic advantages for all Cypriots. From the economic point of view (annual growth, employment, inflation, budget deficit), the positive situation augured well for meeting the criteria for Union membership. On polling day, the right-wing DISY, led by Mr. Giannakis Matsis, held off the challenge of the communist AKEL, edging it by one seat, while its centre-right ally DIKO managed to hold on to 10. With contrasting losses by the socialist EDEK, the overall outcome signified an increasing bipolarisation of the country's politics between conservative and left-wing forces. With its continuing absolute parliamentary majority, the DISY-DIKO tandem stayed in power.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (26 May 1996): Elections results
Number of registered electors	409,996
Voters	381,051 (92.9%)
Blank or invalid ballot papers	11,530
Valid votes	369,521

Round no 1: Distribution of votes
Political Group	Votes	%
Democratic Rally (DISY)	127,380	34.47
Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL)	121,958	33.03
Democratic Party (DIKO)	60,726	16.43
EDEK Socialist Party	30,033	8.13
Movement of Free Democrats (KED)	13,623	3.69

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total	Gain/Loss
Democratic Rally (DISY)	20	=
Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL)	19	+1
Democratic Party (DIKO)	10	-1
EDEK Socialist Party	5	-2
Movement of Free Democrats (KED)	2	+2

Distribution of seats according to sex:
Men:	53
Women:	3

Distribution of seats according to age:
31 - 40 years	11
41 - 50 years	19
51 - 60 years	16
61 - 70 years	9
Over 70 years	1