Cyprus at a Glance_EN

Government Cyprus is an independent sovereign Republic with a presidential system of government. The constitution provides for separate executive, legislative and judicial branches of government with independent powers. The President is both Head of State and Government. Executive Presidency According to the 1960 Constitution, the President is to be Greek Cypriot elected directly by the Greek Cypriot community and the Vice-President is to be Turkish Cypriot elected directly by the Turkish Cypriot community, for a five-year term of office. The Constitution provides that executive power is exercised jointly by the President and the Vice- President, through a Council of Ministers appointed by them (seven and three ministers respectively). Both the President and the Vice-President have the right of final veto on decisions of the Council of Ministers and laws or decisions of the House of Representatives concerning foreign affairs, defence and security. In 1964, however, the Turkish Cypriot Vice-President and the three Turkish Cypriot ministers withdrew from the government and since then the government has been functioning by necessity only with Greek Cypriots in all ministries, which have been subsequently increased to eleven. The post of Vice-President remains vacant. Council of Ministers The Council of Ministers exercises executive power in all matters. Each Minister is the head of his or her Ministry and exercises executive power on all matters within that Ministry’s domain. The Government Spokesman and the Deputy Minister to the President are also present at the meetings of the Council of Ministers. 3