Cyprus · Government
Government and administration in Cyprus
How the executive, legislature and administrative state are organised, and which body is responsible for what.
The three branches
- Head of state and government — President
- Directly elected for five years; appoints the Council of Ministers.
- Legislative — House of Representatives
- 56 seats filled; 24 seats reserved for the Turkish Cypriot community remain vacant.
- Judicial — Supreme Council of Judicature
- Appointments, promotion and discipline of judges.
- Law officers — Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General
- Independent; head the Law Office and the prosecution function.
- Audit and oversight — Auditor General and Commissioner for Administration
- The Commissioner is the ombudsman and equality body.
How legislation is made
Bills are introduced by ministers or members and passed by the House of Representatives. The President may return a law for reconsideration or refer it to the Supreme Court for a constitutionality ruling before promulgation; if the Court finds no conflict, promulgation follows. Laws enter into force on publication in the Official Gazette unless otherwise provided, and EU obligations are frequently implemented by harmonising statute and regulation.
Enforcement institutions
- Cyprus Police
- Single national force under the Ministry of Justice and Public Order.
- Law Office of the Republic
- Under the Attorney General; conducts prosecutions and represents the state.
- Unit for Combating Money Laundering (MOKAS)
- Financial intelligence unit; significant given the corporate services sector.
- Commissioner for Personal Data Protection
- GDPR supervisory authority.
- Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property
- Company registration and IP filings.
Government bodies and regulators
Found something out of date on Cyprus · Government?
Corrections are reviewed against the primary source before anything changes.