Cyprus

House of Representatives

Political system
Presidential system
Structure of parliament
Unicameral
IPU membership
Yes

Oversight

Oversight tools

Parliament/Chamber has the power to summon members of the government
No
Parliament/chamber has the power to summon senior government officials
Yes

Sources: Applies only for parliamentary committees, not for the Plenary (Law 21/1985, Art. 3).

Parliament has the power to approve key government appointments
Yes

Sources: Law 3/1991, Art. 3(1).

Approximate number of government appointments subject to parliamentary approval
1
Parliament/chamber has the power to approve key government appointments
Yes
Number of written questions asked, per year
266
(2023)
Number of written questions answered by the government, per year
227
(2023)

Notes:

Figures are based on the parliamentary year (September to July)

Some answers to written questions refer to previous years

2012-2013: 894 (407 answers referred to questions from previous years)

2013-2014: 878 (308 answers referred to questions from previous years)

2014-2015: 680 (217 answers referred to questions from previous years)

2015-2016: 467 (195 answers referred to questions of previous years) + 92 (extraordinary session, 2 June 2016-15 July 2016)

2016-2017: 897 (200 answers referred to questions from previous years)

2019: 750 (239 answers referred to questions from previous years)

2021: 352 (167 answers referred to questions from previous years)

2022: 270 (29 answers referred to questions from previous years)

2023: 227 (72 answers referred to questions from the previous session)

Percentage of written questions answered by the government, per year
85.3%
(2023)
Parliament/chamber has power to carry out inquiries
Yes

Sources:

Rules of Procedure, Rule 46(B)

Number of parliamentary inquiries, per year
0
(2023)

Notes: Parliamentary inquiries are carried out in the framework of parliamentary committees’ work. Cyprus' presidential system does not provide the House of Representatives with the competence to hold inquiries that may result in penal implications.

Head of State and/or Government

Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of Government
Parliament does not play a role

Sources: Constitution, art. 42

The Head of Government is also the Head of State
Yes
Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of State
Parliament does not play a role

Impeachment and confidence motions

Parliament is automatically dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted
Not applicable

Impeachment procedure

There is a procedure for parliament to dismiss or impeach the following persons/institution
The Head of State

Sources: Constitution, art. 45(2)

No confidence processes

There is a procedure for parliament to express no confidence in the following persons/institution
Not applicable (there is no procedure)

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No