1960 Cypriot legislative election
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Parliamentary elections were held in Cyprus in 1960. The House of Representatives was elected on 31 July 1960,[1] whilst the Communal Chambers were elected on 7 August.[2] In the House of Representatives 35 seats were elected by Greek Cypriots and 15 by Turkish Cypriots.[3] The result was a victory for the Patriotic Front, which won 30 of the 50 seats. In the Communal Chambers, the Patriotic Front won 20 of the 26 seats in the Greek Chamber, whilst the Cyprus Turkish National Union won all seats in the Turkish Chamber.
Electoral system
The House of Representatives consisted of 35 Greek members and 15 Turkish members, whilst the Greek Communal Chamber had 26 members (of which three were reserved for minorities) and the Turkish Communal Chamber had 30.
The 1959 electoral law divided Cyprus into six multi-member constituencies, the largest of which was Nicosia with 17 House seats; 12 for Greeks and five for Turks.[4] Voters could vote for as many candidates as there were seats in their constituency.[4]
Campaign
The Democratic Union led by Themistocles Dervis and John Clerides and the newly formed Pan-Cyprian Union of Fighters did not participate in the elections.[2][4] The Democratic Union had opposed the 1959 electoral law, claiming it favoured the Patriotic Front.[4]
The Patriotic Front and AKEL formed a pact for the elections, with a pre-agreed split of 30 and five seats respectively.[4]
In the fifteen Turkish seats, eight members of the Cyprus Turkish National Union ran unopposed in Nicosia, Kyrenia and Larnaka, whilst the 13 independent candidates ran in Famagusta, Limassol and Paphos.[5]
Results
House of Representatives
| Party | Votes | % | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greek Community | |||
| Patriotic Front | 82,888 | 56.1 | 30 |
| AKEL | 51,719 | 35.0 | 5 |
| PEKA | 5,397 | 3.7 | 0 |
| Independents | 7,736 | 5.2 | 0 |
| Invalid/blank votes | – | – | |
| Total | 147,740 | 100 | 35 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 216,310 | – | |
| Turkish Communities | |||
| Cyprus Turkish National Union | 15 | ||
| Independents | 0 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | – | – | |
| Total | 6,729 | 15 | |
| Registered voters/turnout | 9,154 | 73.5 | – |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver, Oron | |||
Communal Chambers
| Party | Votes | % | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greek Chamber | |||
| Patriotic Front | 20 | ||
| AKEL | 3 | ||
| Armenians | 1 | ||
| Maronites | 1 | ||
| Latins | 1 | ||
| Total | 26 | ||
| Turkish Chamber | |||
| Cyprus Turkish National Union | 30 | ||
| Total | 30 | ||
| Source: Oron, Conley | |||
Aftermath
Following the elections, a 12-member cabinet was formed;[6]
| Member | Position |
|---|---|
| Minister of Agriculture | Fazil Plumber |
| Minister of Commerce and Industry | Andreas Arouzos |
| Minister of Communications and Works | Andreas Papadopoulos |
| Minister of Defence | Osman Örek |
| Minister of Finance | Reghinos Theocharous |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | Spyros Kyprianou |
| Minister of Health | Niyazi Manyera |
| Minister of the Interior | Polycarpos Georgadjis |
| Minister of Justice | Stella Souliotou |
| Minister of Labour and Social Services | Tassos Papadopoulos |
| Deputy Minister of Agriculture | Andreas Azinas |
| Deputy Minister of Health | Mehmet Nazim |
In December 1963 the Turkish Cypriots withdrew from participation in the government, leaving Parliament with only 35 Greek seats.[7]
References
- ^ Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p438 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
- ^ a b Yitzhak Oron Middle East Record Volume 1, 1960 The Moshe Dayan Centre, p225
- ^ Nohlen & Stöver, p434
- ^ a b c d e Marshall William Conley (1967) Political Community and Social Conflict: Cyprus
- ^ Nohlen & Stöver, p441
- ^ Oron, p227
- ^ Historical review Parliament of Cyprus
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