Nicosia, Cyprus. Disy held its final pre-election rally on Wednesday evening in Nicosia, with party leader Annita Demetriou urging voters to support what she called an “alliance of responsibility”.
Rally at the old GSP stadium
The gathering took place at the old GSP stadium and opened with deputy leader Efthimios Diplaros, who said Disy had kept Cyprus stable through difficult periods.
Diplaros described the party as one that had “kept Cyprus standing in difficult times, with seriousness, with stability, with political maturity,” and said it had avoided “frivolities, populism and those who invest in division and toxicity.”
He said Disy had “never flattered anyone” and “never chosen the easy path of slogans.”
Warning against rising populism
Greek rural development minister and member of Disy’s sister party in Greece, New Democracy, Margaritis Schinas addressed the rally and warned about rising populism across Europe and in Cyprus.
Schinas said the upcoming elections were important not only for political balance but because “the populist component has returned, which wants to rear its head again.”
He called on supporters to “erect a barricade” against extremism, adding that “the path of reason is never the easy path. It is the path that requires patience, perseverance, political courage and seriousness.”
Demetriou sets out party priorities
Demetriou told supporters that Disy remained a “liberal, democratic and patriotic party” and said it had consistently placed the “collective interest and the perspective of the homeland above all else.”
She said Cyprus was facing “international upheaval, geopolitical challenges and economic pressures,” and argued that the country “does not have the luxury of experimentation, toxicity and populism.”
Demetriou outlined the party’s priorities, focusing on economic growth through “quality investments, innovation and competitiveness,” and said a strong economy was essential for social policy, healthcare, education and defence.
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