At stake in this Referendum:

• Voters within the Greek Cypriot community were asked whether they wished to accept the provisions stipulated in the UN-sanctioned Annan plan, which would unify Northern Cyprus with the Republic of Cyprus.

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS
• Head of Government: President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS
• Assembly: Cyprus has a unicameral House of Representatives (Vouli Antiprosopon) with 80 seats. ***

*** 56 seats are assigned to the Greek Cypriots and 24 to Turkish Cypriots.

Main provisions in the Referendum:

• Referendum on unification of the Republic of Cyprus with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The UN-sanctioned Annan plan specified Cyprus as a confederation of two states, with separate republics handling domestic affairs and a central federal government that would manage international, legal and economic concerns.

Electoral Requirements

• The referendum had to be approved by a majority of both the Greek and Turkish Cypriot voters in order for its provisions to take effect.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 771,657 (July 2003 est.)
• Registered Voters: 480,564 ( 2004 )

At stake in this election:

• The office of President of Cyprus

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Glafcos CLERIDES
• Head of Government: President Glafcos CLERIDES
• Assembly: Cyprus has a unicameral House of Representatives (Vouli Antiprosopon) with 80 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 5-year term.
• In the House of Representatives (Vouli Antiprosopon) 80 members are elected by popular vote to serve 5-year terms.***

*** 56 seats are assigned to the Greek Cypriots and 24 to Turkish Cypriots.

Main Candidates in the Second Round of the Presidential race:

• Glafcos CLERIDES
  • Party: Democratic Rally
• George IAKOVOU**
  • Party: Independent Candidate

** George IAKOVOU was endorsed by the Progressive Party of the Working People.

Main Candidates in the First Round of the Presidential race:

• Glafcos CLERIDES
  • Party: Democratic Rally
• George IAKOVOU**
  • Party: Independent Candidate
• Vassos LYSSARIDES
  • Party: Unified Democratic Union of Cyprus
• A. GALANOS
  • Party: Independent
• George VASSILIOU
  • Party: Free Democrats Movement

** George IAKOVOU was endorsed by the Progressive Party of the Working People.

Last Presidential election:

• The last presidential election was held on February 14, 1993. In this election, Glafcos CLERIDES received 50.3% of the vote and thus defeated George VASSILIOU, his closest competitor with 49.7% of the vote.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 1,015,827 (2004)
• Registered Voters: 483,311 (2004)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 502,792 (2004)

·         Is Cyprus a signatory to CEDAW: No 

·         Has Cyprus ratified CEDAW: Yes, accession (23 July 1985)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: N/A

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 6 (following the 2001 elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 32 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A

Disability Data:

·         Is Cyprus a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)

·         Has Cyprus ratified CRPD: Yes (27 June 2011)

·         Population with a disability: 152,374 (est.)