Population. – The last census, which was held in 1946, resulted in a total population of 450.114 residents; according to the most recent estimate, calculated in 1957, the population of the island was approximately 536,000 units. Of particular interest, given the political developments that led to the independence of the island, is the examination of the ethnic composition of the Cypriot population. In 1946 the residents belonging to the Greek ethnic group were 361,199 against 80,548 Cypriots of the Turkish ethnic group. In 1956 the relationship between the two groups was substantially the same: 416,986 Greeks against 92,642 Turks. The percentages of the two ethnic elements (78 and 18% respectively) were kept in mind in laying the foundations of the new republican constitution of the island, as regards the composition of the parliament, of the government, of public office and the army. Modest was the increase in the population of the main centers of the island. In the following list, the data relating to 1946 and 1956 are expressed in order: Nicosia, 34,500-40,500; Limassol, 22,000-27,800; Famagusta, 16.200-21.100; Larnaca, 14.750-16.900.
Government. – For it, the State of Cyprus is a republic with a presidential regime, whose president is a Greek and the vice-president a Turk, respectively elected by the Greek and Turkish communities of the island by universal suffrage. The official languages of the republic will be Greek and Turkish. The republic will have its own flag of neutral color and design. The authorities and communities will have the right to display the Greek and Turkish flags together with the flag of Cyprus on public holidays. The Greek and Turkish communities will have the right to celebrate Greek and Turkish national holidays. The president and vice president will be elected for a term of five years. Executive power will be ensured by the president and the vice president. To do this they will have a council of ministers made up of 7 Greek ministers and 3 Turkish ministers. The ministers will be designated respectively by the president and the vice-president, who will appoint them by a jointly signed deed. Legislative power will be exercised by a House of Representatives elected, for a period of five years, by universal suffrage (for each community separately, in the proportion of 70% for the Greek community and 30% for the Turkish community). For Cyprus political system, please check politicsezine.com.
The House of Representatives will be competent for all matters, except those expressly reserved to the Municipal Chambers. In the event of a conflict of jurisdiction, such conflict will be defined by the Constitutional Supreme Court, which will be composed of a Greek, a Turkish and a neutral, jointly appointed by the president and the vice-president. The Court will be presided over by the neutral judge. Each community will have its own municipal chamber made up of a number of representatives set by itself. The municipal chambers will have the right to impose personal taxes and rights on the members of their communities, to meet their needs as well as the needs of the works and institutions over which they are responsible. The municipal chambers will be competent for all religious, educational, cultural and teaching matters, as well as for personal status. They will be equally competent for matters where interests and institutions are purely municipal in nature. The administration will be composed of 70% of Greeks and 30% of Turks. The chiefs and sub-chiefs of the armed forces, gendarmerie and police forces will be appointed by mutual agreement of the President and Vice President of the Republic. One of the chiefs will be Turkish and, where the chief belongs to one of the communities, the sub-chief must belong to the other. Compulsory military service can only be instituted with the agreement of the President and Vice President of the Republic. Cyprus will have an army of 2000 men, of which 60% will be Greeks and 40% Turks. The security forces (gendarmerie and police) will have a contingent of 2000 men, which can be reduced or increased by mutual agreement of the president and vice president. The security forces will be composed of 70% of Greeks and 30% of Turks. A High Court of Justice will be established, consisting of two Greeks, a Turkish and a neutral, jointly appointed by the President and the Vice President of the Republic. The Court will be presided over by the neutral judge, who will have two votes. This Court will constitute the High Council of the Judiciary (appointments, advancements of judges, etc.). In the event of an agrarian reform, the lands can only be distributed to people belonging to the same community to which the expropriated owner belongs. The Greek and Turkish governments will have the right to subsidize educational, cultural, sporting institutions and charitable works belonging to their respective communities. One of the following ministries: Foreign Affairs, Defense, Finance, will be entrusted to a Turk. If the president and vice president agree, they can replace this system with a rotation system. sports and charities belonging to their respective communities. One of the following ministries: Foreign Affairs, Defense, Finance, will be entrusted to a Turk. If the president and vice president agree, they can replace this system with a rotation system. sports and charities belonging to their respective communities. One of the following ministries: Foreign Affairs, Defense, Finance, will be entrusted to a Turk. If the president and vice president agree, they can replace this system with a rotation system.
