Parliamentary Political Parties in Cyprus

Progressive Party of Working People - AKEL (Anorthotiko Komma Ergazomenou Laou) General Secretary: Mr. Demetris Christofias, President of the House of Representatives. Left wing party, founded in 1941, based on Marxist-Leninist principles, taking into account current international political and economic developments. It supports an independent, demilitarized Cyprus and a federal solution of the internal aspect of the Cyprus problem. It places particular emphasis on rapprochement with the Turkish Cypriots. The party secured 34, 71% of the votes in the 27 May 2001 parliamentary elections, gaining 20 seats in the House of Representatives. In the 13 June 2004 elections for the European Parliament, the party gained two of the six seats in the European Parliament. The party is successor to the Communist Party of Cyprus which held its first congress in 1926 but was declared illegal by the British authorities in 1931. Constituted in 1941, AKEL absorbed the Communist Party. It was declared illegal during the anti-colonial struggle from 1955 to 1959.

Democratic Rally– DISY (Dimokratikos Synagermos) President: Mr. Nicos Anastasiades (Member of the House) Centre right party founded in 1976. Member of the European People’s Party, Christian Democrat International, the European Democrat Union and the International Democrat Union. It supports a solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation. The party secured 34% of the votes in the 27 May 2001 parliamentary elections, gaining 19 seats in the House of Representatives. During 2004, four MPs left the party following disagreements. In the 13 June 2004 elections for the European Parliament, the party gained two of the six seats in the European Parliament.

Democratic Party-DIKO (Dimokratiko Komma) President: Mr. Tassos Papadopoulos, President of the Republic Party of the centre, founded in 1976. It supports a settlement of the Cyprus problem based on UN resolutions. It has accepted the idea of federation. The party secured 14, 84% of the votes in the 27 May 2001 parliamentary elections, gaining 9 seats in the House of Representatives. In the 13 June 2004 elections for the European Parliament, the party gained one of the six seats in the European Parliament.

Movement of Social Democrats - EDEK (Kinima Sosialdimokraton Edek) President: Mr. Yiannakis Omirou (Member of the House) The party is the successor of the Socialist Party EDEK*. It is a member of the European Socialist Party and Socialist International. It supports an independent and united Cyprus within a federal system with a strong central government and a settlement based on UN resolutions and the implementation of human rights for all its citizens. The party secured 6, 51% of the votes in the 27 May 2001 parliamentary elections, gaining 4 seats in the House of Representatives. *(The Socialist Party EDEK was originally founded as EDEK in 1969 by the honorary President of the party Dr Vassos Lyssarides).

European Party – EURO.KO (Evropaiko Komma) President: Mr. Demetris Syllouris (Member of the House) This centre party was founded on 3 July 2005, when the New Horizons Party merged with other political forces to form the European Party. It has 4 seats in the House of Parliament and is a founding member of the European Democratic Party (EPD). It believes that the solution to the Cyprus problem should be compatible with the European acquis and based on the UN resolutions as well as human rights. In this respect, the results of the April 2004 referendum, with the overwhelming 76% of Greek-Cypriots rejecting the proposed plan, should be fully respected. It is also in favor of the EU’s closer involvement in the procedures towards the solution to the problem, to ensure, inter alia, that the European principle of abolishing artificial divisions is respected and that both Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots live together in a united island without any ethnic or other segregation.

European Democracy – EURO.DE. (Evropaiki Dimokratia) President: Mr. Prodromos Prodromou (Member of the House) Centre right party founded in 2004 following the result of the April 24 referendum and the accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the European Union. The party supports a settlement of the Cyprus Question on the basis of European principles and in particular, the Constitution for Europe and the Charter of Fundamental Rights. The party secured 10,8% of the votes in the 13 June 2004 elections for the European Parliament gaining one of the six seats in the European Parliament. Three of its members represent the party in the House of Representatives.

United Democrats - EDI (Enomeni Dimokrates) President: Mr. Michalis Papapetrou Party of the centre, founded on 1 December 1996. It participates as an associate member in the European Liberal Democrats (ELDR). It advocates the creation of a federation and a settlement based on UN resolutions. The party secured 2, 59% of the votes in the 27 May 2001 parliamentary elections, gaining 1 seat in the House of Representatives. (The Movement of Free Democrats (KED) led by Mr. George Vassiliou and the Democratic Socialist Reform Movement (ADISOK) of Mr. Michalis Papapetrou merged on 1 December 1996 to form the United Democrats. KED had secured 3.69% of the votes and won two seats in the May 1996 elections. ADISOK had received 1.44% of the votes and no seats).

Fighting Democratic Movement - ADIK (Agonistiko Dimokratiko Kinima) President: Mr. Dinos Michaelides (Member of the House) Party of the centre right founded in March 1999. (Its President was formerly a member of the Democratic Party) It supports an independent and united Cyprus and a settlement based on UN resolutions and the European acquis. It secured 2, 16% of the votes in the 27 May 2001 parliamentary elections, gaining 1 seat. The party has entered the House of Representatives for the first time.

Ecological-Environmental Movement (Kinima kologon-Perivallontiston) General Secretary: Mr. George Perdikis (Member of the House) Also calling it self the Cyprus Green Party the Ecological - Environmental Movement is run by a 7-member Committee and members act as the General Coordinator in turn. The party, founded in March 1996, is a member of the European Federation of Green Parties. It is opposed to any geographical division of the island and the people of Cyprus based on ethnic origin or religion. It is not in favor of any arms build-up. It secured 1, 98% of the votes in the 27 May 2001 parliamentary elections, gaining 1 seat. It has entered the House of Representatives for the first time.

Current Distribution of Seats in the House of Representatives

Party Number of Seats:

Source: Press And Information Office, Republic Of Cyprus, 2005