🗳️ Elections in North Cyprus
- John Nordmann
- Apr 19
- 2 min read
1. Types of Elections
Northern Cyprus holds regular democratic elections, including:
Election Type | Frequency | Key Role Elected |
Presidential | Every 5 years | Head of state |
Parliamentary | Every 5 years | 50-member Republican Assembly |
Local Elections | Every 4 years | Mayors, municipal councils |
By-elections & Referendums | As needed | Specific issues or vacancies |
2. Presidential Elections
Voting System: Two-round system (if no candidate gets 50%+ in the first round, top two go to runoff).
Eligibility: Citizens over 35, with higher education, and at least five years of residency.
Powers: The president handles foreign policy, especially regarding the Cyprus issue, and appoints the Prime Minister.
🧠 Recent Example: In 2020, Ersin Tatar won the presidency .
3. Parliamentary Elections
Held every 5 years (or earlier if a coalition collapses).
Uses Proportional Representation (PR) with a mixed-member district system across 6 electoral districts.
Voters can vote in two ways:
Party Vote: Choose one party list — seats allocated proportionally.
Mixed Vote (Karma Oy): Voters can mix candidates from different parties, selecting individuals rather than parties.
👉 Threshold: A party must get at least 5% of the national vote to enter parliament.
4. Major Political Parties
Northern Cyprus has a vibrant but divided political landscape. In the last Parliamentary Elections the results were as follows:
5. Election Oversight
Elections are overseen by the Supreme Election Council.
Voting is compulsory on paper, but not strictly enforced.
Election campaigns are generally peaceful, though vigorously debated, especially regarding relations with Turkey and the future of Cyprus.
6. Voter Participation
Voter turnout is typically high (70–80%), showing strong public engagement.
Elections are often a barometer for the population's view on:
Turkish influence
The stalled reunification talks
Economic struggles and governance issues
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