Cyprus parliament moves to allow police and firefighters to run for elections

On October 14, 2026, the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs in Cyprus discussed new regulations that would permit members of the police and fire services to participate as candidates in any type of election, including local, parliamentary, and presidential. This legislative shift follows a ruling by the Supreme Court, acting as an Appellate Court, which determined that the Constitution does not prohibit uniformed personnel from seeking elective office.

The head of the Cyprus Police Association, Angelos Nikolaou, expressed satisfaction with the progress, noting that discussions are ongoing regarding how these candidates should handle their professional duties, including potential resignation requirements if elected. Committee Chair Fotini Tsiridou stated that while the right to run is now recognized, the focus has shifted to establishing internal safeguards. These regulations are intended to prevent the police and fire departments from becoming politicized during election cycles and to ensure citizens receive neutral, non-partisan service from these institutions.

The Ministry of Justice is currently working on aligning these specific articles with existing civil service regulations. Future steps involve drafting and implementing specific internal codes of conduct that will govern how candidates act both within and outside their respective services to maintain impartiality.