2020 Northern Cypriot Constitutional Referendum

The 2020 Northern Cypriot constitutional referendum was held in Northern Cyprus on October 11, 2020, alongside the first round of presidential elections.

Background

The Constitution of Northern Cyprus, adopted in 1983, has undergone several amendments over the years. The proposed amendment aimed to increase the membership of the Supreme Court from eight to a maximum of sixteen members.

Constitutional Change Proposal

The constitutional change proposal was initiated by the judicial branch and was approved by the Council of Ministers. The main reason for the proposed amendment was the significant increase in workload of the Supreme Court over the past decade, with a 98% rise in cases handled. This had resulted in an insufficient number of judges to handle the court's duties efficiently.

Voting Results

The referendum was held on October 11, 2020, and the results showed that the proposed amendment was rejected by 50.13% of voters.

Context

The referendum was organized simultaneously with the first round of presidential elections in Northern Cyprus. The outcome of the referendum marked a significant development in the country's constitutional framework, highlighting the need for further reforms to address the Supreme Court's workload and ensure its efficiency.

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