Cyprus
Cyprus exhibits mid-range performance in the Rule of Law and Participation categories of the Global State of Democracy (GSoD) framework, and it performs in the high-range with regard to Representation and Rights. It is among the world’s top 25 per cent of countries in most factors and is only among the bottom 25 per cent for Electoral Participation. Between 2018-2023, Cyprus has experienced declines in Access to Justice, particularly measures of judicial accountability, and Freedom of the Press, including harassment of journalists and media bias. Cyprus has a high-income economy with a dominant services sector, which was hard-hit by the financial crisis in 2008, and the default of two major banks in 2013.
The current configuration of Cyprus’s geopolitical division dates back to 1974, following a coup d’état by islanders favoring union with Greece, which paved the way for military intervention by Türkiye. Yet, the growth of Turkish and Greek nationalisms – that have stymied the creation of a multi-ethnic ‘Cypriot’ identity – had originated during British colonial rule. The island country is de facto separated following Turkish Cypriots’ unilateral declaration of independence in 1983 and, today, the northern area is administered by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus - recognized only by Türkiye. The Cypriot government only controls the southern, Greek-speaking part of the island in practice. GSoD data only cover conditions in the southern, state-controlled area. Northern Cyprus continues to use the Turkish Lira, which has sometimes led to friction. Following the failed referendum of the Annan plan in 2004, progress on resolution talks has been stagnant despite repeated attempts to revive them.
Recent trends have shown a decline in trust in domestic institutions, notably in the elected government, leading to growing political disengagement. Political participation and activism have also been challenged by the dispersal of anti-corruption protests, as well as a 2024 bomb attack on a key anti-racism organization. Journalists are often victims of online harassment. Political debate in Cyprus remains organized around the county’s ongoing intercommunal dispute. The ‘Cyprus problem’ decisively absorbs much of domestic political competition, with divisions between the parties who favor, and those who stand against, proposals for resolution. Intra-group divisions are also noteworthy, including clear divergences between Turkish Cypriots and Turkish immigrants to the island with respect to their identity formation (and conflict resolution preferences) and perceptible political differences towards reconciliation along generational lines within the Greek community. While Turkish Cypriots are the largest minority group, there are also substantial Maronite, Armenian, Latin and Roma communities. Cyprus struggles with surging violence against migrants and refugees, and authorities have been criticized for failing to protect migrants and to hold attackers to account, eroding the trust of migrant communities in law enforcement.
Cyprus is mid-performing in Gender Equality. In 2023, Cyprus criminalized any conversion practices aiming to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity and prohibited advertising of conversion practices. However, women remain underrepresented in high-level political positions and international observers and domestic civil society actors have pointed to weak legal protections for victims of domestic and gender-based violence, noting particular challenges in access to shelters and crisis centers.
As voter apathy has been growing alongside wider political disengagement, impacts can be expected in Electoral Participation. It will be important to safeguard the civic space for active political participation, and recent attempts to boost citizen engagement should be watched closely in this respect, including a proposal to allow members of the public to submit legislative proposals to the Parliament and the launch of citizen participation platforms. It will also be important to watch efforts to support the access of Turkish Cypriots to social services and access to religious sites, with a view to building momentum towards a reconciliation agenda, which could impact Social Group Equality. Finally, it will be important to watch press freedom, especially in view of proposed amendments to criminalize “fake news” which media freedom watchdogs fear would encourage self-censorship among journalists.
Last updated: August 2024
https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/
October 2024
European court finds violations in asylum access denial
On 8 October, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Cyprus violated several human rights, including the prohibition of inhumane or degrading treatment, the prohibition of collective expulsion, and the right to an effective remedy, in the case of two Syrian nationals. In September 2020, Cypriot authorities intercepted the migrants at sea and immediately returned them to Lebanon, where they had lived in a refugee camp for four years after fleeing the conflict in Syria. The Court found that Cyprus had failed to process their asylum claims, as well as to evaluate the living conditions or the risk of persecution in Lebanon and examine the specific situation of the individuals concerned. The ruling sets an important precedent against migrant pushbacks, both at sea and at the buffer zone with Northern Cyprus. The Court ordered Cyprus to pay roughly EUR 50,000 in compensation to the applicants.
Sources: ECHR, Council of Europe, The Guardian, JURIST, Cyprus Times
September 2024
Dismissal of whistleblowing Auditor-General sparks protests
The Supreme Court made a rare decision on 18 September to dismiss Auditor General Odysseas Michaelides, citing inappropriate conduct, including criticising public officials on social media and continuing to allege wrongdoing against officials even after they had been legally cleared. Thousands of people attended a protest against corruption in the justice system, and members of the House Audit Committee staged a walk-out in support of Michaelides during a September Committee meeting. According to the ruling, Michaelides exceeded his authority and abused his position. During his 10-year tenure, Michaelides was involved in disputes with members of the executive branch as well as with the Attorney General, who initiated the case, accusing public officials of illegally receiving pensions and publishing a 2020 audit report on a cash-for-passports scheme. Michaelides expressed the intent to bring a case to the European Court of Human Rights on the grounds of violations of due process (right to a fair trial) and freedom of expression.
Sources: Cyprus Mail (1), Cyprus Mail (2), Cyprus Mail (3), Reuters, Kathimerini, Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project
February 2024
Parliament considers bill to improve public participation
A proposal to allow members of the public to submit legislative proposals to the Parliament has been submitted by MP Christiana Erotokritou from the centrist Democratic Party (DIKO). The bill would allow members of the public to submit motions to Parliament as long as they have obtained 5,000 signatures. The public’s proposals would then be vetted by the legal department of Parliament, adopted by one or more MPs, and discussed in a parliamentary committee. Erotokritou states that the purpose is to increase public participation and give them direct access to the democratic process. The proposal is currently up for review by the House legal affairs committee.
Sources: The Cyprus Magazine, Cyprus Mail (1), Cyprus Mail (2), bnn
January 2024
Bomb attack on anti-racism NGO
On 5 January, the office of the NGO Kisa (Action for Equality, Support, Antiracism) was attacked with an improvised explosive device, destroying windows, computers and archives. Kisa reported receiving threats in recent years with “racist and nationalist motives.” The attacker is unknown, and a police investigation is ongoing. Kisa has criticized Cypriot authorities for contributing to a hostile environment, including by systematically undermining the organization’s legitimacy (for example by removing Kisa from the register of associations in 2020) and failing to investigate previous threats and harassment against the organization and its staff. The European Network Against Racism (ENAR) condemned the attack and raised concerns over the lack of response from Cypriot authorities. ENAR and other human rights organizations report that the attack is part of a broader trend of escalating hostilities and divisive rhetoric targeting marginalized communities, especially migrants, and the organizations that support them in Cyprus.
Sources: Cyprus Mail, Euronews, ENAR, Kisa, Amnesty International, Civic Space Watch
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Global ranking per category of democratic performance in 2023
Basic Information
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Factors of Democratic Performance Over Time
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