The question of whether Turkish Cypriots can stand as candidates in parliamentary elections has resurfaced following the announcement of Oz Karahan’s candidacy with the Green Party. The issue highlights the long and complex history of Turkish Cypriot voting rights within the Republic of Cyprus.
From the 1960 Constitution to division
When the Republic of Cyprus was founded in 1960, the Constitution established a clear bi-communal balance: 35 seats for Greek Cypriots and 15 for Turkish Cypriots in the House of Representatives. The right to vote and run for office was guaranteed to all citizens, regardless of community. Early elections saw figures such as Rauf Denktash and Mehmet Zorlu enter parliament, marking a brief period of shared governance.
However, the 1963 crisis led to a rupture. Turkish Cypriots withdrew from state institutions, leaving their 15 parliamentary seats vacant. In the landmark 1964 case Attorney General v. Mustafa Ibrahim, the Supreme Court ruled that the state could continue to function under the “law of necessity,” while affirming that Turkish Cypriots remained citizens with full civil rights. The seats, though unfilled, were never abolished—a constitutional anomaly that persists today.
European law restores participation
The restoration of Turkish Cypriot voting rights began decades later, driven by Cyprus’s European Union accession in 2004. Principles enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights required full access to political participation for all citizens.
The turning point came with Aziz v. Cyprus (ECHR, 2004), where the Court found it unlawful to deny citizens the right to vote or stand for election on the basis of community. Following that decision, Turkish Cypriots residing in government-controlled areas were included in the Greek Cypriot electoral register and granted full voting and candidacy rights.
A return to the ballot box
Ibrahim Aziz’s 2001 candidacy with AKEL symbolised this new era of participation. The milestone moment arrived in 2019, when academic Niyazi Kızılyürek was elected as a Member of the European Parliament with AKEL—the first Turkish Cypriot to win office under the Republic since 1960.
Today, Turkish Cypriot citizens enjoy the same electoral rights as all others, guaranteed by both constitutional and European law. Their renewed participation stands as a reminder that democracy in Cyprus, though tested, continues to bridge divides and give voice to all its people.
Also read: Greek Cypriots trial acquittal in occupied north
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