Cyprus's new archbishop, Makarios II, continues to oppose British policy in general and any policy in particular that does not actively promote enosis.

Nevertheless, the assembly opens in November with eighteen members present.

Of these, seven are Turkish Cypriots, two are Greek Cypriots without party affiliations, one is a Maronite from the small minority of non-Orthodox Christians on the island, and eight are AKEL-oriented Greek Cypriots—usually referred to as the "left wing."

The eight left-wing members propose discussion of full self-government, but the presiding officer, Chief Justice Edward Jackson, rules that full self-government is outside the competence of the assembly.

This ruling causes the left wing to join the other members in opposition to the British.

The deadlocked assembly adjourns until May 1948, when the governor attempts to break the deadlock by advancing new constitutional proposals.

The new proposals include provisions for a Legislative Council with eighteen elected Greek Cypriot members and four elected Turkish Cypriot members in addition to the colonial secretary, the
attorney general, the treasurer, and the senior commissioner as appointed members.

Elections are to be based on universal adult male suffrage, with Greek Cypriots elected from a general list and Turkish Cypriots from a separate communal register.

Women's suffrage is an option to be extended if the assembly so decides.

The presiding officer is to be a governor's appointee, who cannot be a member of the council and would have no vote.

Powers are reserved to the governor to pass or reject any bill regardless of the decision of the council, although in the event of a veto he is obliged to report his reasons to the British government.

The governor's consent is also required before any bill having to do with defense, finance, external affairs, minorities, or amendments to the constitution can be introduced in the Legislative Council.

The proposals of the British do not come close to fulfilling the expectations and aspirations of the Greek Cypriots in the political climate of the immediate post-Second World War era.

The idea of "enosis and only enosis" becomes even more attractive to the general population.

Having observed this upsurge in popularity, AKEL feels obliged to shift from backing full self-government to supporting enosis, although the right-wing government in Greece is bitterly hostile to communism.

Makarios had been consecrated as bishop on June 13, 1948, in the Cathedral of Larnaca.

He also became secretary of the Ethnarchy Council, a position that made him chief political adviser to the archbishop and swept him into the mainstream of the enosis struggle.

His major accomplishment as bishop is planning the plebiscite that brings forth a ninety-six percent favorable vote for enosis in January 1950.

In June Archbishop Makarios II dies, and in October the bishop of Kition is elected to succeed him.

He takes office as Makarios III and, at age thirty-seven, is the youngest archbishop in the history of the Church of Cyprus.

At his inauguration, he pledges not to rest until union with "Mother Greece" has been achieved.