Learning from Malta

Writing in the Famagusta Gazette, retired diplomat Alfred A Farrugia says Cyprus could learn from Malta:

The Parliamentary system in Malta has worked fairly well since the island gained its Independence from Britain in 1964. Perhaps the time has come for Cyprus to consider the possibility of moving from a Presidential system to a parliamentary system.

The early concession of a federation implies the legalization of the partition, and this is why it is so difficult for an agreement to be reached by the majority of the Cypriots who wish to see their country as a single entity.

Given the current personal respect between the President of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot leader, is it not possible for Mr. Mehmet Ali Talat to be designated as Deputy Prime Minister in a Cabinet led by Mr. Demetris Christofias as Prime Minister? A couple of Turkish Cypriot Ministers in such a Cabinet could make sure that the basic human needs of the Turkish Cypriot community are being catered for.

The political parties in the two communities could align themselves in accordance with the European Parliament system, and the parties in one community could form alliances with the appropriate parties in the other community. In this way the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots will be represented in both the Government and the Opposition, and they will similarly be represented when these alternate between them in a united country...