Five political parties initiate consultations for electoral reform in Cyprus

Five political parties in Cyprus have launched formal consultations to discuss potential reforms to the national electoral system. The initiative, led by the Movement of Ecologists – Citizens' Cooperation, aims to address perceived inequalities and distortions created by the 2015 legislative amendment. The process began on September 29, 2026, following an initial letter sent by former party leader Stavros Papadouris on August 6, 2026, to all political entities.

The core proposals include the implementation of horizontal voting and the reintroduction of simple proportional representation for the second and third seat allocations. Currently, parties must secure a 3.6% threshold to participate in the second round of seat distribution, a hurdle that primarily benefits larger parties. Proponents argue that reverting to the pre-2016 system, which featured a 1.8% threshold, would result in a more diverse and representative parliament. So far, the parties ALMA, Direct Democracy, EDEK, and DIIPA have responded positively to the invitation for dialogue.

Representatives from the Ecologists have already met with EDEK president Sofia Christodoulou Makri to explore consensus. The initiative remains ongoing, with the participating parties actively seeking common ground to foster a more participatory democratic system before any formal legislative changes are drafted.