Democratic Rally

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For other uses, see Democratic Rally (disambiguation).
Democratic Rally

Δημοκρατικός Συναγερμός
AbbreviationDISY
LeaderAverof Neofytou
FounderGlafcos Clerides
Founded4 July 1976 (1976-07-04)
Preceded byEK,[1] DEK
HeadquartersNicosia, Cyprus
Youth wingNEDISY
IdeologyLiberal conservatism[2][3]
Christian democracy[2][3]
Greek-Cypriot nationalism[4]
Economic liberalism[3]
Atlanticism
European federalism
Political positionCentre to centre-right[5][6]
European affiliationEuropean People's Party
International affiliationCentrist Democrat International
International Democrat Union
European Parliament groupEuropean People's Party
Colours     Blue
House of Representatives
18 / 56
European Parliament
2 / 6
Municipal Councils
168 / 470
Website
www.disy.org.cy

The Democratic Rally (Greek: Δημοκρατικός Συναγερμός (ΔΗΣΥ), Dimokratikós Sinagermós (DISY)), is a conservative,[2][3] Christian-democratic[2][3] political party in Cyprus led by Averof Neofytou.[7] The party was founded on 4 July 1976 by veteran politician Glafcos Clerides. Clerides served as the president of Cyprus from 1993 until 2003.

The current President of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades (in office since 2013), is a member and former leader of the party.

Overview[edit]

DISY is a member of the European People's Party (EPP). In the 2014 European Parliamentary Election it elected 2 MEPs, who joined the EPP Group.

DISY serves a widely diverse spectrum of voters, ranging from hard-line Greek Cypriot nationalists and anti-communists to humanist liberals with post-materialist and post-modern values who advocate human rights.[8] DISY's platform focuses on free enterprise economic policies, lower direct taxes and higher indirect taxes, economic development, opposing government deficits, investments in infrastructure, and a practical solution to the Cyprus dispute (though the party base is traditionally more hawkish and hard-line than the party leadership). It is the most explicitly Atlanticist and pro-NATO of Cyprus's parties, and draws its support from middle-class professionals, businessmen, and white-collar employees.[9]

The leadership of the Democratic Rally is generally less hard-line than the party base, and in 2004 supported the Annan Plan for the re-unification of Cyprus, believing that further adjustments could be made afterwards. Following the Plan's overwhelming rejection by the Greek Cypriot Community, four MPs (Sillouris, Prodromou, Erotokritou, Taramoundas) who had opposed the party line were expelled and a number of members willingly resigned. The expelled MPs formed a party called European Democracy. In 2005 European Democracy merged with New Horizons and created European Party. Former party president Yiannakis Matsis headed a splinter coalition called For Europe in the European Parliamentary Election. Matsis gained a seat in the European parliament, also joining the EPP group (while still remaining a member of DISY).

Election results[edit]

In the legislative elections of 21 May 2006, the party won 30.52% of the popular vote and 18 out of 56 available seats, and in the legislative elections of 22 May 2011, the party won 34.27% of the popular vote and 20 out of 56 available seats. The party's candidate, Nicos Anastasiades, won the 2013 presidential elections, ended the five years rule of the Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL). In the legislative elections of 2016, the party won 30.68%, taking 18 seats in the parliament and remaining the party with the largest representation.

House of Representatives
Election Votes Seats
# % Rank # ±
1981 92,886 31.9 2nd new
1985 107,223 33.6 1st Increase 7
1991 122,495 35.8 1st Increase 1
1996 127,380 34.5 1st Steady 0
2001 139,721 34.0 2nd Decrease 1
2006 127,776 30.3 2nd Decrease 1
2011 138,682 34.3 1st Increase 2
2016 107,824 30.7 1st Decrease 2

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Neofytos Loizides (2012). Transformations of the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot Right: Right-wing Peace-makers?. Beyond a Divided Cyprus: A State and Society in Transformation. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 186. ISBN 9780230338548.
  2. ^ a b c d Wolfram Nordsieck (2016). "Cyprus". Parties and Elections in Europe.
  3. ^ a b c d e Hans Slomp (30 September 2011). Europe, A Political Profile: An American Companion to European Politics. ABC-CLIO. p. 690. ISBN 978-0-313-39182-8. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  4. ^ James Ker-Lindsay and Hubert Faustmann, The Government and Politics of Cyprus, p. 20, 2009
  5. ^ Neophytos Loizides (2015). Challenging Partition in Five Success Stories. Resolving Cyprus: New Approaches to Conflict Resolution. I.B. Tauris. p. 181.
  6. ^ Nathalie Tocci (2007). Greece, Turkey and Cyprus. European Politics. Oxford University Press. p. 125.
  7. ^ "Δημοκρατικός Συναγερμός". disy.org.cy (in Greek). Retrieved 2017-11-13.
  8. ^ Giorgos Charalambous (2015). The Party Politics of the Problem. Resolving Cyprus. p. 50.
  9. ^ "Cyprus - Political Parties". Retrieved 2 April 2016.

Further reading[edit]

  • Neophytos Loizides (2012). Transformations of the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot Right: Right-wing Peace-makers?. Beyond a Divided Cyprus: A State and Society in Transformation. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 185–201. ISBN 9780230338548.

External links[edit]

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