PROGRESSIVE PARTY OF THE WORKING PEOPLE OF CYPRUS
PROGRESSIVE PARTY OF THE WORKING PEOPLE OF CYPRUS
PROGRESSIVE PARTY OF THE WORKING PEOPLE OF CYPRUS (ΑΚΕΛ, AKEL) - leftist communist party, formed in 1926 in the Republic of Cyprus. The original name of the party was the Communist Party of Cyprus (CPC). The party described its initial goals as the fight against exploitation and the liberation of Cyprus from British rule. The party received its current name in 1941. After the end of World War II, AKEL was the organizer of the struggle of the workers for the liberation of Cyprus from the British people, for the improvement of working conditions and an increase in living standards. The party took the position of the gradual acquisition of sovereignty by Cyprus - first as part of the British Empire, and later - the proclamation of independence from England and the subsequent accession to Greece (Enosis), but after that it advocated immediate Enosis. Subsequently, AKEL sought a peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem based on respect for the principles of equality and self-determination of peoples. A comprehensive foreign policy was implemented along with a broad pro-people socio-economic policy. The party goals at present include: the protection of the class, social and political interests of the working people; building a democratic and humane socialist society; the fight against nationalism; achieving full independence of the country; combating the consequences of the economic crisis; the creation of a Europe of the Peoples. In 2008, the leader of the party, Dimitris Christofias, won the presidential elections and served as president until 2013. Since 2009, the general secretary of the party has been Andros Kyprianou, Member of Parliament for Nicosia. In the same year, the Progressive Party of the Working People of Cyprus concluded an agreement with the United Russia party. In 2016, in the national elections to the Chamber of Deputies, the party won 16 seats, which was 29% of the total number of seats. According to the results of the 2019 elections, the party received 2 seats in the European Parliament, which is 33% (of the total quota of 6 seats for parties in Cyprus). The youth wing of the party is the United Democratic Youth Organisation, formed in 1959. The party's headquarters are located in the capital of Cyprus, Nicosia. According to official data, the number of party members for 2020 is over 2 660 people. Party’s official website: http://www.akel.org.cy