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Cyprus - Government and Political Conditions (Notes)

GOVERNMENT Since 1974, Cyprus has been divided de facto into the government-controlled two-thirds of the island and the Turkish Cypriot-administered one-third. The Government of the Republic of Cyprus has continued to be the only internationally recognized authority; in practice, its authority extends only to the government-controlled area. The 1960 Cypriot constitution provided for a presidential system of government with independent executive, legislative, and judicial branches, as well as a complex system of checks and balances, including a weighted power-sharing ratio designed to protect the interests of the Turkish Cypriots. The executive, for example, was headed by a Greek Cypriot president and a Turkish Cypriot vice president, elected by their respective communities for 5-year terms, and each possessing a right of veto over certain types of legislation and executive decisions. The Greek Cypriot-controlled Republic of Cyprus retains most elements of the presidential system of government expressed in the constitution, although it has cited the Turkish Cypriots' 'withdrawal from government' and the 'law of necessity' to enact structural changes that allow 'effective governance.' Following the 1974 hostilities, the Turkish Cypriots set up their own institutions in the area they administered with an elected 'president' and a 'prime minister' responsible to the National Assembly exercising joint executive powers. In 1983, the Turkish Cypriots declared an independent 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' ('TRNC'). The United States does not recognize the 'TRNC,' nor does any country other than Turkey.