United Democrats


The United Democrats is a liberal political party in Cyprus. Founded by former President of Cyprus George Vasiliou, the party was a vocal proponent of the Reunification of Cyprus and played a central role in the country's accession to the European Union.
Historically, the party occupied a unique space in Cypriot politics by combining economic liberalism with a strong commitment to Cypriotism—a civic identity emphasizing a shared future for Greek and Turkish Cypriots over ethnic nationalism. It was a member of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe and the Liberal International. Following the rejection of the Annan Plan for Cyprus in 2004, the party's electoral support collapsed, and it has been largely inactive since the mid-2010s.

History

Foundation and merger (1993–1996)

The party's origins lie in the **Movement of Free Democrats**, founded in 1993 by George Vasiliou after he narrowly lost his bid for re-election as President of Cyprus.
In 1996, KED merged with **ADISOK**, a splinter group of the communist party AKEL. ADISOK had been formed in 1990 by reformist left-wing figures including Andreas Fantis, Andreas Ziartides, and Pavlos Diglis, who advocated for perestroika-style reforms and a more flexible approach to the Cyprus problem. The merger of a centrist-liberal party with a reformist left-wing group was driven by their shared commitment to a federal solution for Cyprus and European integration.

EU accession and the Clerides government (1996–2003)

The United Democrats enjoyed their greatest influence during the administration of President Glafcos Clerides. Although the party often competed against Clerides' Democratic Rally in elections, they cooperated closely on the national goal of EU membership. Party founder George Vasiliou was appointed as the Chief Negotiator for Cyprus' accession to the European Union, a process that was successfully concluded in 2002.
In the 2001 legislative elections, the party received 2.6% of the vote and elected one Member of Parliament, George Vasiliou.

The Annan Plan and electoral decline (2004–2010)

The United Democrats were among the strongest supporters of the Annan Plan, a UN-proposed comprehensive settlement to reunify the island. In the 2004 referendum, the party campaigned vigorously for a "Yes" vote. The plan was accepted by the Turkish Cypriot community but overwhelmingly rejected by Greek Cypriots.
The rejection of the Annan Plan had severe political consequences for the party, which was branded by opponents as too concessionary to Turkey. In 2005, George Vasiliou stepped down as leader and was succeeded by Michalis Papapetrou, the former government spokesman.
In the 2006 legislative elections, the party's vote share plummeted to 1.6%, falling well below the electoral threshold required to enter the House of Representatives. Papapetrou resigned following the defeat, and in March 2007, Vice President Praxoula Antoniadou was elected as the new president.

Alliance with AKEL and inactivity (2011–Present)

Attempting to regain political relevance, the United Democrats formed an electoral alliance with the left-wing party AKEL for the 2011 legislative elections. The cooperation was based on a shared commitment to resuming peace talks, despite the two parties' opposing views on economic policy. Party leader Praxoula Antoniadou ran on the AKEL ticket but failed to win a seat.
In August 2011, President Demetris Christofias appointed Antoniadou as Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism. She served until a cabinet reshuffle in March 2012.
The party effectively ceased high-level political activity after 2013. It did not field candidates in the 2016 or 2021 legislative elections. By 2022, it was no longer listed as a member of Liberal International, and its former space in the political center has largely been occupied by the Democratic Alignment.

Ideology

The United Democrats were defined by two main pillars:
  • **Cypriotism:** The party rejected Hellenocentrism and advocated for a common Cypriot identity shared by both Greek and Turkish Cypriots. They consistently supported a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation as the only viable solution to the Cyprus problem.
  • **Liberalism:** Economically, the party supported free markets, privatization, and foreign investment, aligning with the European liberal consensus. They were staunchly pro-European, viewing EU membership as a catalyst for modernization and peace.

    Electoral history

House of Representatives

Leadership

  • 1996–2005: George Vasiliou
  • 2005–2007: Michalis Papapetrou
  • 2007–2014: Praxoula Antoniadou