Six years is too long a term

I disagree with the recent agreement between President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Talat that the length of term in office for an elected governing administration should be six years.

It was recently reported on the news that for four years the president should come from the Greek Cypriot community and that his running mate from the Turkish Cypriot community should be vice president, then for the remaining two years they should switch round and that the vice president should become the President.

In most western countries four years is the norm.

Six years is too long for any administration, supposing we get an administration which makes bad decisions on, for example, the economy? Six years is too long for the public to wait to get rid of it. Leaving it at the current five years is sufficient.

Three years and three months for the Greek Cypriot President and a year and nine months for his Turkish Cypriot running mate is fair. It’s not surprising that they chose six years, since they are likely the ones who would be in power if the agreement were to be put into practice. It suits them personally.

Now is the time for other political parties, both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot to start pushing for a shorter term – especially since they are the ones who are going to be in opposition for six whole years.

D. Demetriou
Cumbria, UK