Presidential elections were held in

Cyprus Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is geo ...

for the first time on 13 December 1959. Only two candidates contested the election;

Makarios III Makarios III ( el, Μακάριος Γ΄; born Michael Christodoulou Mouskos) (Greek: Μιχαήλ Χριστοδούλου Μούσκος) (13 August 1913 – 3 August 1977) was a Cypriot politician, archbishop and primate who served as ...

, who was backed by

EOKA The Ethniki Organosis Kyprion Agoniston (EOKA; ; el, Εθνική Οργάνωσις Κυπρίων Αγωνιστών, lit=National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters) was a Greek Cypriot Greek Cypriots or Cypriot Greeks ( el, Ελληνο� ...

and

Ioannis Clerides Ioannis Clerides Queen's Counsel, QC Order of the British Empire, CBE (Greek language, Greek: Ιωάννης Κληρίδης, 1887–1961), sometimes known as John Clerides, was a Greek Cypriot lawyer and politician. He served as Mayor of Nicosia ...

, a member of the Democratic Union, who was also supported by

AKEL The Progressive Party of Working People ( el, Ανορθωτικό Κόμμα Εργαζόμενου Λαού, ; abbr. , AKEL; tr, Emekçi Halkın İlerici Partisi) is a Marxist–LeninistHelena Smith, Cyprus gets ready for a communist 'takeover ...

.Nohlen & Stöver, p445 The result was a victory for Makarios III, who won 66.8% of the vote, although he did not take office until 16 August 1960. Voter turnout was 91.2%. A separate election for

Vice President of Cyprus Vice president of Cyprus is the second highest political position in Cyprus. Under the 1960 constitution, the vice presidency is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot. However, the Turkish Cypriots have not participated in the government since December 1 ...

took place.

Fazıl Küçük Fazıl Küçük (; el, Φαζίλ Κιουτσούκ; 14 March 1906 – 15 January 1984) was a Turkish Cypriot politician who served as the first Vice President of the Republic of Cyprus. Biography Fazıl Küçük, the son of a farmer, was ...

was the only candidate, and was elected unopposed.Marshall William Conley (1967
Political Community and Social Conflict: Cyprus
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Electoral system

The elections were held using a

two-round system The two-round system (TRS), also known as runoff voting, second ballot, or ballotage, is a voting method used to elect a single candidate, where voters cast a single vote for their preferred candidate. It generally ensures a majoritarian resul ...

; if no candidate received over 50% of the vote in the first round, a second round was to be held between the top two candidates. The constitution required the President of Cyprus to be a Greek Cypriot and the Vice-President to be a Turkish Cypriot. Greek Cypriots elected the President and Turkish Cypriots elected the Vice-President.The Elections (President and Vice-President) of the Republic laws 1959 to 2017
Legislation Online

Results

References

{{Cypriot elections 1959 in Cyprus

Presidential elections in Cyprus December 1959 events in Europe