The president of Cyprus, officially the president of the Republic of Cyprus, is the head of state and the head of government of Cyprus, as well as the commander-in-chief of the Cypriot National Guard. The office was established by the Constitution of 1960, after Cyprus gained its independence from the United Kingdom.
The combination of the role of head of state and that of government is unique among member states of the European Union, making Cyprus the only EU state with a full presidential system of government.
The constitution, which was negotiated during the London and Zürich Agreements that divided power between the Greek Cypriot community and Turkish Cypriot community, requires the president to be a Greek Cypriot. Other requirements are that the officeholder must be over the age of thirty-five and elected directly in a two-round system. The president's term lasts for five years, and in accordance with the thirteenth amendment to the constitution, no person can serve more than two consecutive terms.
Nikos Christodoulides is the eighth and current president of Cyprus, having assumed office on 28 February 2023.
Powers and limitations According to the Constitution, the president of the Republic is the head of state, and is elected for a five year term through direct, universal and secret ballot.
Among the most important powers granted to the president of the Republic by the Constitution, are the power to put into effect laws passed by the House of Representatives or the right of veto to prevent legislation passed by the House from being enacted, if a given law concerns issues of the external policy, security and defence of the Republic, the right to refer such legislation back to the legislative body, as well as the right to refer it to the Supreme Court for the purposes of checking its constitutionality.
In addition, the president convenes the meetings of the Council of Ministers and draws up their agenda, while maintaining the right of veto for council meetings as well, provided that they concern issues of external policy, security and defence of the Republic, as well as the right to refer them back to the aforementioned body.
Today, under the doctrine of necessity, the president appoints eleven ministers, who constitute the country's Cabinet, and with the exception of the powers reserved by the constitution explicitly for the president and vice president of the Republic, exercise the executive authority of the state.
Furthermore, the Constitution grants the president the power to unilaterally appoint independent state officials and Supreme Court judges.
There are two ways for the president of the Republic to be removed from office. In the first case, they must be convicted by the Supreme Court for high treason, following prosecution by the prosecutor general and the deputy prosecutor general, which has to be approved by a resolution of at least three-quarters of members of parliament. In the second case, they must be convicted of a dishonorable offense or an offense of moral turpitude, following prosecution by the prosecutor general and the deputy prosecutor general, which has to be approved by the president of the Supreme Court.
List of officeholders Key Elected unopposed † Died in office
Portrait Name Term Political Party Elected Took office Left office Time in office
Timeline
Latest election
Statistics # President Date of birth Age at inauguration Time in office Age at retirement Date of death Longevity 1 Mouskos, MichailMakarios III 1913081313 August 1913(13 August 1913) 47 00347 years, 3 days 16 32016 years, 211 days 65 17663 years, 355 days 197708033 August 1977 63 years, 355 days 2 Kyprianou, SpyrosSpyros Kyprianou 1932102828 October 1932(28 October 1932) 44 31044 years, 310 days 10 17810 years, 178 days 55 12355 years, 123 days 2002031212 March 2002 69 years, 135 days 3 Vassiliou, GeorgiosGeorgios Vassiliou 1931052020 May 1931(20 May 1931) 56 28456 years, 284 days 05 0005 years, 0 days 61 28461 years, 284 days 2026011313 January 2026 94 years, 239 days 4 Clerides, GlafcosGlafcos Clerides 1919042424 April 1919(24 April 1919) 73 31073 years, 310 days 10 00010 years, 0 days 83 31083 years, 310 days 2013111515 November 2013 94 years, 205 days 5 Papadopoulos, TassosTassos Papadopoulos 193401077 January 1934(7 January 1934) 69 05269 years, 52 days 05 0005 years, 0 days 74 05274 years, 52 days 2008121212 December 2008 74 years, 340 days 6 Christofias, DemetrisDemetris Christofias 1946082929 August 1946(29 August 1946) 61 18361 years, 183 days 05 0005 years, 0 days 66 18366 years, 183 days 2019062121 June 2019 72 years, 296 days 7 Anastasiades, NicosNicos Anastasiades 1946092727 September 1946(27 September 1946) 66 15466 years, 154 days 01 199 76 15476 years, 154 days Living (Living) 8 Christodoulides, NicosNikos Christodoulides 197312066 December 1973(6 December 1973) 49 08549 years, 85 days 01 199 (Ongoing) Incumbent Living (Living)
See also List of colonial governors and administrators of British Cyprus Politics of Cyprus List of Cypriot governments
Notes
References
External links Presidency of Cyprus