Criticism of the rotating presidency model in Cyprus

On October 29, 2026, prominent lawyer and politician Giorgos Colocassides expressed strong opposition to the proposed rotating presidency model for a Cyprus settlement. Colocassides argues that this arrangement entrenches a racialized basis for the solution and forces citizens to accept a leader for whom they did not vote, calling the process undemocratic.

The core of the critique focuses on the demographic reality of the island. Colocassides highlights that since the departure of settlers is no longer being negotiated, a rotating president is statistically likely to be a settler rather than an indigenous Turkish Cypriot, given that settlers outnumber the local Turkish Cypriot population. Furthermore, he rejects the 2:1 ratio as inconsistent with lawful population proportions and criticizes the current President for reaffirming these past convergences without public approval or transparent consultation.

This criticism reflects ongoing domestic tensions regarding the negotiation process for the reunification of Cyprus. Colocassides rejects the notion that the rotating presidency is merely a legacy concession from former President Anastasiades, asserting that the current leadership has the authority to renegotiate these terms rather than insisting on their inclusion in formal records.