THE legal services are to examine the elections law in the wake of a European Court decision in favour of a Turkish Cypriot plaintiff barred from voting in the parliamentary elections, the Government Spokesman said yesterday.
On Tuesday, the European Court of Human Rights ruled in favour of Ibrahim Aziz, who brought a case against Cyprus demanding that he be permitted to vote or stand as a candidate in parliamentary elections.
Chrysostomides told his news briefing yesterday that the reason the government had denied permission to Turkish Cypriots to vote in parliamentary elections was because part of the island was occupied by Turkey.
Under the 1960 constitution, Greek and Turkish Cypriots were enrolled on separate electoral registers, each electing members to their own Communal Chamber.
However, Aziz, who lives in the free areas, argued and won his case that the government was being discriminative against Turkish Cypriots, distinguishing them because of their ethnic origin.
The Government Spokesman said the European Court of Human Rights has said that Cyprus must amend its law to allow Turkish Cypriots who live in the free areas to enrol on the electoral list if they so wished.
“The matter is being reviewed by the legal services and if the law is amended it will be based on equality and fairness,” said Chrysostomides.
Asked if the state expected to come across any problems with the court’s decision, Chrysostomides repeated that a thorough in-depth study would be conducted into the current law and the necessary changes made.
Aziz said on Tuesday it was time for the Cypriot government to recognise his rights and those of other Turkish Cypriots living in Cyprus. “The fact that Turkish Cypriots could live and work in the free areas but not be permitted to vote in the parliamentary elections or stand as a candidate is in my opinion racist and discriminatory,” said Aziz.
“This has always bothered me as a citizen of the Cyprus Republic. I have never chosen sides. I have simply lived in society as a Cypriot. I work for Cyprus and believe that the future means unification for both societies to live peacefully and happily together.”
Aziz’ Lawyer Sotiris Drakos said the current law was a violation of human rights.
“This ruling will now force the Cyprus government to amend the voting law and allow all citizens in the free areas of Cyprus to vote whatever their ethnic origin. This means all Turkish Cypriots living in Cyprus will be able to enrol in the electoral list for parliamentary elections,” said Drakos.
He added that the court’s decision broke down the barrier established in the 1960 constitution.
“It is every Cypriot’s right to partake in the elections, to express their opinion and to represent the people in their country. This is a decision that honours human rights in Cyprus and takes them to another level,” said Drakos.
