Un sistema presidenziale atipico: il caso di Cipro

An atypical presidential system: the case of Cyprus – A number of unique and typical aspects characterize the legal system of Cyprus. The most significant element is the huge gap between the rules and principles of the 1960 Constitution and constitutional reality. Together with the division of the Island, this misalignment has also generated very relevant consequences on the system of government. Formally the Constitution designs an institutional architecture with “dual presidentialism”, but in fact the system has evolved towards hyper-presidentialism. The essay deals with the history of the political and constitutional system of Cyprus, its legal features and its concrete functioning, highlighting the critical junctures concerning the only country in the European Union where it is not established the confidence between Parliament and Government.