Cyprus parliament abolishes percentage quotas for officer promotions

In Cyprus, on April 2, 2026, a plenary session of Parliament approved a law abolishing the ranking criterion based on percentage quotas (80%–70%–60%) in military schools for the promotion of officers by selection.

The decision concerns graduates of the Command and Staff School (ΣΔΙΕΠ), the Supreme Joint War College (ΑΔΙΣΠΟ), and the National Defense School (ΣΕΘΑ). Previously, for promotion to the rank of major and above by selection, in addition to the final grade ("Excellent" or "Very Good"), a specific place in the graduate ranking was required: being in the top 80% at ΣΔΙΕΠ for majors, the top 70% at ΣΔΙΕΠ and ΑΔΙΣΠΟ for lieutenant colonels, and the top 60% at ΑΔΙΣΠΟ for colonels.

If these percentages were not met, officers were moved to promotion by seniority, and for colonels, failing to be in the top 60% meant a long stay in that category.

According to the Parliamentary Defense Committee, the change aims to strengthen equality, evaluate officers based on their overall service trajectory, align practices with international approaches, and simplify procedures by reducing bureaucracy. Final graduate grades ("Excellent", "Very Good") remain an important criterion, but the link to quantitative quotas is abolished, which, according to legislators, will eliminate injustices in promotions.