Nicosia, Cyprus. Diko leader Nicholas Papadopoulos said on Sunday night that the party would move to “unite the centre-right” after limiting its election losses to a single parliamentary seat, despite pre-election polls forecasting a much worse result.
Election result
Diko retained eight of its nine seats in parliament, and Papadopoulos described the outcome as “a feat” under the circumstances.
He said the campaign had taken place in “an environment of toxicity and protest” and added that the result “sends a signal of danger for society.”
Centre-left and centre-right appeal
Papadopoulos said the party would present itself to those who had discounted or doubted it, adding: “We are all Diko.” He described his party as “the only party of the centre in the new parliament” and said it would “maintain a crucial … role in the country’s political life.”
He also said he was concerned by what he called a “devaluation of politics” and an “extreme questioning of institutions,” which he said “must concern us all.” He extended an invitation to “all voters from the centre who have been disappointed by today’s results.”
Next steps
“From tomorrow, Diko will immediately take the initiative to unite the centre-right space,” he said. “The voice of the centre and all democratic forces will not be lost. A new beginning is getting started for the reorganisation of this space, and we promise all together that the centre will soon be here, united and strong.”
Papadopoulos thanked those who voted for the party, saying their trust “honours and moves us,” and added that “from tomorrow morning, we will roll up our sleeves again and begin the effort to build together a strong Diko, a strong centre, and, most importantly, a better tomorrow for our Cyprus.”
He said: “Cyprus deserves more and Diko will continue to fight for this Cyprus of ours.”
