General municipal elections to elect Presidents of District Organisations shall be conducted every five (5) years, at a date specified by the Minister by decree published in the Government Gazette of the Republic and this date shall coincide with the date of electing the Members of the European Parliament.
The 2024 Elections are the first elections following the local government reform, the aim of which is the administrative and financial autonomy of Municipalities and the financial sustainability of new Local Authorities. At the same time, by broadening the role and responsibilities, Local Authorities will be able to provide more and higher quality services to citizens, while actively participating in the economic, social and cultural development. The Municipalities Act of 2022 contains provisions for the creation of stronger municipalities, with administrative and financial autonomy along the lines of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, with strengthened internal control and transparency mechanisms, increased powers and greater opportunity for citizens to participate in decision-making. In addition, the Union of Municipalities is becoming a modern legal entity governed by public law, a powerful collective body to promote the interests and needs of local communities. The new municipalities will have extended responsibilities (establishment of a municipal police, road maintenance service, responsibilities of school boards as of 2029), but they will not have the power to authorise development (issuing planning and building permits), which is transferred to the District Organisations of Local Government.
The reform of local self-government creates 18 new Municipalities by bringing together 28 Municipalities and 63 Communities, which are made up of municipal districts, while the Municipalities of Strovolos and Pafos remain unchanged.
The municipal elections to be held in 2024 concern 29 Municipalities, nine (9) of which are occupied (Famagusta, Kyrenia, Morphou, Kythrea, Lefkoniko, Acanthou, Lysi, Karavas, Lapithos) and two (2) semi-occupied (Nicosia, Paralimni–Deryneia).