Democratic Rally

The Democratic Rally (Greek: Δημοκρατικός Συναγερμός, Dimokratikós Sinayermós, DISY), is a conservative and Christian-democratic political party in Cyprus, led by Nicos Anastasiades. The party was founded on 4 July 1976 by veteran politician Glafkos Klerides. Clerides served as Cyprus president from 1993 until 2003.

DISY is a member of the European People's Party (EPP). In the 2004 European Parliamentary Election it gained the 28.2% of the vote, and elected 2 MEPs, Ioannis Casoulides and Panayiotis Demetriou, who joined the EPP-ED Group along with former DISY president Yannakis Matsis.

The leaders of Democratic Rally supported the Annan Plan for the re-unification of Cyprus. Following the 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 For Europe in the European Parliamentary Election. Matsis gained a seat in the European parliament, also joining the EPP group (he is still a member of DISY).

In the elections of 21 May 2006, the party won 30.52% and 18 out of 56 seats. In the elections of 22 May 2011, the party won 34.27% and 20 out of 56 seats.

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