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.
Famous quotes containing the words democratic and/or rally:
“He rejected, if he did not despise, democratic principles; advocated a government as strong, almost, as a monarchy.... He believed in authority, and he had no faith in the aggregate wisdom of masses of men.”
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924)
“The bright old day now dawns again; the cry runs through the the land,
In England there shall be dear bread—in Ireland, sword and brand;
And poverty, and ignorance, shall swell the rich and grand,
So, rally round the rulers with the gentle iron hand,
Of the fine old English Tory days;
Hail to the coming time!”
—Charles Dickens (1812–1870)