The United Democrats ( el, Ενωμένοι Δημοκράτες (ΕΔΗ), ''Enomenoi Dimokrates'' (EDI)) is a liberal political party in Cyprus. The party was founded by former President of Cyprus George Vasiliou in 1993 as ''Kinima Eleftheron Dimokraton'' ("Movement of Free Democrats"). The party later merged with ADISOK (a group of former

AKEL The Progressive Party of Working People ( el, Ανορθωτικό Κόμμα Εργαζόμενου Λαού, ; abbr. , AKEL; tr, Emekçi Halkın İlerici Partisi) is a Marxist–LeninistHelena Smith, Cyprus gets ready for a communist 'takeover ...

members, including Andreas Fantis,

Andreas Ziartides Andreas Ziartides ( el, Ανδρέας Ζιαρτίδης; 1919–1997) was a Cypriot trade unionist and politician. He was a Member of Parliament from 1960 to 1991, being elected as a candidate of the left wing AKEL party. He was Secretary Gen ...

and Pavlos Diglis) to form United Democrats. The party is a full member of the

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE; french: Alliance des Démocrates et des Libéraux pour l'Europe, ADLE) is a transnational alliance between two European political parties, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Euro ...

and an observer member of the Liberal International.

History

At the legislative elections, 27 May 2001, the party won 2.6% of the popular vote and 1 out of 56 seats. During the

2004 Annan Plan Referendum A referendum on the Annan Plan was held in the Republic of Cyprus and the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on 24 April 2004. The two communities were asked whether they approved of the fifth revision of the United Nations proposa ...

, the party supported the Annan Plan for Cyprus. In 2005 the party's president George Vasiliou stepped down and

Michalis Papapetrou Michalis Papapetrou is a Cypriot politician and diplomat. He was born in Nicosia, Cyprus on April 11, 1947. He graduated from the Kykko Pancyprian Gymnasium and after his studies in Law, in the University of Athens and the University College Lon ...

was elected president. In the elections of 21 May 2006, the party won only 1.6% and lost parliamentary representation. After the loss of the parliamentary representation

expressed the will to resign as a leader of the party. In March 2007 the vice-president

Praxoula Antoniadou Praxoula Antoniadou Kyriacou is a Cypriot politician, banker and businesswoman. She was a minister and the leader of a political party. Praxoula is a graduate of the London School of Economics. She worked for 24 years with the Central Bank of C ...

took the leadership of the party. In the 2011 Legislative Elections, the United Democrats decided to support the governing party, AKEL. The party leader

was a candidate MP for AKEL. In August 2011, President Demetris Christofias has appointed United Democrats party leader

as Minister for the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism of the Republic of Cyprus.

Presidents

*1996-2005: George Vasiliou *2005-2007:

*2007-Current:

References

External links

United Democrats
official website Political parties in Cyprus Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party member parties Cypriot nationalism Political parties established in 1993 Pro-European political parties in Cyprus {{Cyprus-party-stub

History

Presidents

See also

References

External links