Solidarity Movement (Cyprus)

Solidarity Movement
Κίνημα Αλληλεγγύη
LeaderEleni Theocharous
FounderEleni Theocharous
Founded15 January 2016
Merger ofEuropean Party
Split fromDemocratic Rally
HeadquartersNicosia
Ideology
Political positionRight-wing[3]
European affiliationACRE (2016–19)
EAFD (2020–present)
European Parliament groupEuropean Conservatives and Reformists (2016–19)
Colours   Blue, Red
House of Representatives
0 / 56
European Parliament
0 / 6
Municipal Councils
0 / 478

The Solidarity Movement (Greek: Κίνημα Αλληλεγγύη, Kinima Allilengyi) is a Greek Cypriot nationalist party in Cyprus. It was founded in 2016 by Eleni Theocharous.

Theocharous departed the conservative Democratic Rally in November 2015, in protest to their support of a bizonal, bifederal settlement to the Cyprus problem. She established the Solidarity Movement in January 2016 and right-wing Evroko merged with the party in March of the same year.[4] The Solidarity Movement is contesting 56 seats in the 2016 Cypriot legislative election.[5][6]

On 9 March 2016, Eleni Theocharous joined the Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists, after she retired from the Democratic Rally and the European People's Party.[7] The party lost its one and only seat on 26 May 2019, in the 2019 European Parliament election.[8]

  1. ^ "A Twofold Struggle for the Cypriot Left". Promitheas Research Institute. 11 February 2019.
  2. ^ Nordsieck, Wolfram (2016). "Cyprus". Parties and Elections in Europe.
  3. ^ a b Algan, Yann (2018). "The European Trust Crisis and the Rise of Populism" (PDF). Brookings Institution. p. 38.
  4. ^ Kades, Andria. "EVROKO to merge with Theocharous' Solidarity movement (Update)". Cyprus Mail. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  5. ^ Psyllides, George (15 January 2016). "Theocharous unveils Solidarity platform to 'save Republic'". Cyprus Mail. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  6. ^ Anastasiou, Angelos. "Theocharous leaves DISY, announces new movement (Updated)". Cyprus Mail. Archived from the original on 21 November 2015.
  7. ^ "ECR group welcomes Eleni Theocharous". Archived from the original on 10 March 2016.
  8. ^ Andreou, Evie (27 May 2019). "Lack of female MEPs indicates a 'serious democracy deficit'". Cyprus Mail. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019.