Cyprus Election Poll: Results from Prime Research on November 13, 2020

According to data from Prime Research, 6 parties are projected to surpass the electoral threshold and enter the Cyprus parliament: DISY with 20 representatives, AKEL with 17 representatives, DIKO with 8 representatives, EDEK with 4 representatives, ELAM with 4 representatives and KOSP with 3 representatives.

Cyprus's House of Representatives (Vouli ton Antiprosopon) is elected through a proportional representation system across six constituencies. These constituencies align with the island's administrative districts. While 80 seats are allocated, only 56 are effectively filled; the 24 seats reserved for the Turkish-Cypriot community have remained vacant since the constitutional conflicts of 1963/64. Voters can influence the selection of specific candidates within a party list through preference votes, fostering intra-party competition.

To enter the Cypriot Parliament, parties must clear a nationwide electoral threshold, raised to 3.6% of valid votes in 2015. Meeting this threshold is crucial for parties to participate in seat allocation during the second and third phases of the counting process. The threshold increase aimed to prevent excessive parliamentary fragmentation and foster more stable majorities, while still allowing smaller political movements a realistic chance at representation.

Cyprus operates as a presidential republic, strictly separating its executive and legislative branches. The President, directly elected by the people, serves as both head of state and head of government. The President independently forms their cabinet, distinct from parliamentary influence. However, for stable legislation, the President relies on majorities within the House of Representatives, often leading to the formation of parliamentary alliances or coalitions. These alliances are frequently purpose-driven, formed to pass critical legislative initiatives or the state budget.