Vice Presidents of Cyprus

The Vice President of Cyprus is an important office in the constitutional history of the Republic of Cyprus. When Cyprus became independent in 1960, its Constitution created a unique power-sharing system between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. Under this arrangement, the President had to be a Greek Cypriot, while the Vice President had to be a Turkish Cypriot. The Vice President was not only the second-highest official in the state but also held significant constitutional powers, including participation in the Council of Ministers and certain veto rights. However, due to intercommunal conflict and the political division of the island, the office has remained vacant since 1974. Only two individuals have officially served as Vice President of Cyprus

1. Fazıl Küçük (1960–1973)

Fazıl Küçük was the first Vice President of Cyprus and one of the founding leaders of the Republic. He assumed office on 16 August 1960, the day Cyprus officially gained independence from British rule. Küçük was a leading Turkish Cypriot political figure and played a major role in representing the interests of the Turkish Cypriot community during the negotiations that led to independence.

As Vice President, he worked alongside President Makarios III in the early years of the republic. The Constitution granted him substantial powers, including the right to appoint Turkish Cypriot ministers and exercise veto authority in certain state matters. However, tensions between the two communities soon made governance difficult. By 1963, Turkish Cypriots had largely withdrawn from state institutions, and the constitutional system began to break down. Even so, Küçük remained the official Vice President until 18 February 1973.

2. Rauf Denktaş (1973–1974)

Rauf Denktaş became the second Vice President of Cyprus on 18 February 1973. He was another highly influential Turkish Cypriot leader and later became one of the central political figures in the northern part of the island. Denktaş served during a very turbulent period in Cypriot history.

His term ended abruptly on 15 July 1974, when a coup supported by the Greek military junta overthrew President Makarios III. Soon after, Turkey launched a military intervention in Cyprus, leading to the effective division of the island. Following these events, the office of Vice President became inactive and has remained vacant ever since. Later, Denktaş became the leading political figure of Northern Cyprus.

Conclusion

In the history of Cyprus, only two Vice Presidents have officially held office: Fazıl Küçük and Rauf Denktaş. Although the Constitution still recognizes the post, the office has been vacant since 1974 because of the island’s political division and the collapse of the original power-sharing system. Today, the Vice Presidency exists de jure in the Constitution, but in practice it is dormant