United Democrats
Encyclopedia
The United Democrats 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 ex- AKEL members) to form United Democrats.
The party is a member of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party
. Its member of parliament, Androulla Vasiliou is member of the ELDR Bureau.
At the last 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, the party supported the Annan Plan for Cyprus
.
In 2005 the party's president George Vasiliou
stepped down and Michalis Papapetrou
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 Michalis Papapetrou
expressed the will to resign as a leader of the party. In March 2007 the vice-president Praxoula Antoniadou
took the leadership of the party.
In the 2011 Legislative Elections, the United Democrats decided to support the governing party, AKEL. The party leader Praxoula Antoniadou
was a candidate MP for AKEL.
In August 2011, President Demetris Christofias has appointed United Democrats party leader Praxoula Antoniadou
as Minister for the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism of the Republic of Cyprus.
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
political party in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
. The party was founded by former President of Cyprus George Vasiliou
George Vasiliou
Georgios Vasos Vassiliou was the third President of the Republic of Cyprus from 1988 to 1993. He was also the founder and leader of the Cypriot United Democrats party and a highly successful businessman....
in 1993 as "Kinima Eleftheron Dimokraton" (Movement of free democrats). The party later merged with ADISOK (a group of ex- AKEL members) to form United Democrats.
The party is a member of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party
European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party
The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party is a European political party mainly active in the European Union, composed of 56 national-level liberal and liberal-democratic parties from across Europe...
. Its member of parliament, Androulla Vasiliou is member of the ELDR Bureau.
At the last legislative elections
Elections in Cyprus
Elections in Cyprus gives information on election and election results in Cyprus.Cyprus elects on national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. The election of the President is direct, by universal suffrage and secret ballot. Voting is compulsory and every citizen over the...
, 27 May 2001, the party won 2.6% of the popular vote and 1 out of 56 seats.
During the 2004 Annan Plan Referendum, the party supported the Annan Plan for Cyprus
Annan Plan for Cyprus
The Annan Plan was a United Nations proposal to resolve the Cyprus dispute, reuniting the breakaway Northern Cyprus with the Republic of Cyprus. The proposal was to restructure Cyprus as the "United Cyprus Republic", which would be a federation of two states. It was revised a number of times before...
.
In 2005 the party's president George Vasiliou
George Vasiliou
Georgios Vasos Vassiliou was the third President of the Republic of Cyprus from 1988 to 1993. He was also the founder and leader of the Cypriot United Democrats party and a highly successful businessman....
stepped down and Michalis Papapetrou
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 London, he is a practicing lawyer since 1972.In the past...
was elected president. In the elections of 21 May 2006
Cypriot legislative election, 2006
Parliamentary elections were held in Cyprus on 21 May 2006. AKEL and the Democratic Rally both won 18 of the 56 seats. Voter turnout was 89.0%.-Results:...
, the party won only 1.6% and lost parliamentary representation. After the loss of the parliamentary representation Michalis Papapetrou
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 London, he is a practicing lawyer since 1972.In the past...
expressed the will to resign as a leader of the party. In March 2007 the vice-president Praxoula Antoniadou
Praxoula Antoniadou
Praxoula Antoniadou Kyriakou is Acting President of the United Democrats since March 2007.She is a graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science where she received a B.Sc. and an M.Sc. in Economics....
took the leadership of the party.
In the 2011 Legislative Elections, the United Democrats decided to support the governing party, AKEL. The party leader Praxoula Antoniadou
Praxoula Antoniadou
Praxoula Antoniadou Kyriakou is Acting President of the United Democrats since March 2007.She is a graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science where she received a B.Sc. and an M.Sc. in Economics....
was a candidate MP for AKEL.
In August 2011, President Demetris Christofias has appointed United Democrats party leader Praxoula Antoniadou
Praxoula Antoniadou
Praxoula Antoniadou Kyriakou is Acting President of the United Democrats since March 2007.She is a graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science where she received a B.Sc. and an M.Sc. in Economics....
as Minister for the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism of the Republic of Cyprus.
Presidents
- 1996-2005: George VasiliouGeorge VasiliouGeorgios Vasos Vassiliou was the third President of the Republic of Cyprus from 1988 to 1993. He was also the founder and leader of the Cypriot United Democrats party and a highly successful businessman....
- 2005-2007: Michalis PapapetrouMichalis PapapetrouMichalis 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 London, he is a practicing lawyer since 1972.In the past...
- 2007-Current: Praxoula AntoniadouPraxoula AntoniadouPraxoula Antoniadou Kyriakou is Acting President of the United Democrats since March 2007.She is a graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science where she received a B.Sc. and an M.Sc. in Economics....
See also
- LiberalismLiberalismLiberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
- Contributions to liberal theoryContributions to liberal theoryIndividual contributors to classical liberalism and political liberalism are associated with philosophers of the Enlightenment. Liberalism as a specifically named ideology begins in the late 18th century as a movement towards self-government and away from aristocracy...
- Liberalism worldwideLiberalism worldwideThis article gives information on liberalism in diverse countries around the world. It is an overview of parties that adhere more or less to the ideas of political liberalism and is therefore a list of liberal parties around the world....
- List of liberal parties
- Liberal democracyLiberal democracyLiberal democracy, also known as constitutional democracy, is a common form of representative democracy. According to the principles of liberal democracy, elections should be free and fair, and the political process should be competitive...
External links
- United Democrats official website