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On February 5, 1969, Vassos Lyssaridis announced that he would contribute “to the creation of free political life through the creation of a party, the cooperation of scientific, agricultural and other democratic elements”. The party was chosen to be called the United Democratic Union of the Center because in Greece the Center was represented by George Papandreou who had established himself as a progressive force. The program of EDEK was socialist but the nomenclature of Socialism was added during the second Congress of the Party in April 1974. This was contributed to by the fact that in 1969 V. Lyssaridis had realized that the world did not know exactly what the socialist movement was while the majority of citizens confused Socialism with Communism.

On February 14, 1969, the United Democratic Union of the Center announced its decision to establish a youth organization under the name “United Democratic Union of Youth”.

A few days later, on February 25, 1969, at a Press Conference by Vasos Lyssaridis at the “Ledra Palace” hotel, the party manifesto and programmatic positions of EDEK were announced, which, according to the newspaper Phileleftheros, included, among other things, the following:

1. “A bipartisan policy on the Cyprus problem. Under the current circumstances, the feasible solution as proclaimed by President Makarios is supported.”
2. Friendship with all peoples and alliance with the forces that struggle for complete national freedom. Non-aligned foreign policy of positive neutrality.
3. The rural ecclesiastical property, the low forests and the chalk land should be returned to the cultivators. Strengthening the Cooperative Movement.
4. Countries that import their products to Cyprus should absorb a specific percentage of Cypriot products.
5. Participation of the working productive classes in the ownership of the means of production.
6. Implementation of a general state plan for the provision of medical care.
7. Free education. Organization of scholarships and adaptation of education so that it becomes the property of the people.
8. Nationalization of foreign mines.
9. Substantial state control of banks.
10. “Creation of public housing.”

The first months of 1969 were spent in meetings between the founder of EDEK, Dr. Vasos Lyssarides, and people who supported his idea in order to discuss the organizational structures of the party. As Spyros Zachariadis reports, among the people Vasos Lyssarides met were the dentist Takis Hadjidimitriou, the MP Petros Stylianou, the lawyers Zenon Katsouris and Efstathios Efstathiou, as well as groups of citizens from various professional groups (teachers, farmers, scientists, etc.). According to Spyros Zachariadis, the main reasons that led V. Lyssarides to found EDEK were the Cyprus problem, the avoidance of polarization in the political life of the country, and the promotion and implementation of the ideas of socialism. In particular, S. Zachariadis states:

“As Mr. Lyssarides emphasized, they were trying to impose a solution tailored to their own interests that would politically and militarily integrate Cyprus into the military-political apparatus of NATO, ensuring the unquestionable guardianship of foreigners in the internal affairs of the Cypriot people. To achieve this, they would have to neutralize the main forces that resisted this solution and prepare political formations that would favor cooperation with them. For Mr. Lyssarides, the entire political world and every genuine patriot had a duty to protect Cyprus from such dangers and to propose resistance to anything that could serve anti-popular plans.

Another important reason that led to the decision to establish E.D.E.K. was the avoidance of polarization in the political life of the country. On the one hand, there was AKEL, active since 1926, with strong bases in the rural and working class, and on the other hand, the established party of the “nationalist coalition”, of Mr. Glafkos Clerides and Polykarpos Giorkatzis, which aspired to unite the right-wing space. Between them, E.D.E.K. could bridge the contradictions for the benefit of the entire people.

The promotion and application of the ideas of socialism in Cypriot society was among the initial motivations for the establishment of E.D.E.K.. Of course, there may have been A.K.E.L. by then, which promoted similar goals, but there was some confusion between the concepts of socialism and communism. Communist countries, having single-party regimes, called themselves socialist. That is why the world was somewhat suspicious of the ideology of socialism. Thus, E.D.E.K. hoped that with its establishment it would clarify the social and democratic character of socialism, implementing its basic principles in practice.

In the months that followed, after the Programmatic Declaration of February 1969 and until the Spring of 1970, the party leader, accompanied by his close associates, developed the basic principles of the E.D.E.K. to the Cypriot people, touring from one end to the other throughout the island.

This effort was not easy, if one considers the climate of terrorism that prevailed at that time. The illegal organizations “National Front” and “Holy Battalion” with the circulation of leaflets, theft of explosives, shootings and bomb explosions against individuals, associations and organizations that supported the President of the Republic of Cyprus Archbishop Makarios and the policy he followed, were trying to create a climate of anarchy, insecurity and anomaly to intimidate the people and the political leadership in order to force Archbishop Makarios to resign from the office of President or to diversify the policy of what is feasible that he was following for the national problem of Cyprus. The difficulties of the E.D.E.K. to promote its positions increased even more as the dictatorial government of Greece at the time disagreed in general terms with Makarios. Indicative of the situation prevailing at that time, we point out: a) the assassination attempt made on March 8, 1970 against Makarios, in which the pilot of his helicopter, Zacharias Papadogiannis, was seriously injured and b) the assassination of the former Minister of Interior and Defense, Polykarpos Giorkatzis, on March 15, 1970.

Despite all the objective difficulties encountered by the cadres of the E.D.E.K., they continued to inform the Cypriot people about the party’s positions until the Spring of 1970, when it was decided to hold the Founding Pancyprian Congress of the E.D.E.K..”

The Founding Pancyprian Congress of EDEK took place on May 3, 1970 at the Pallas Cinema. According to Spyros Zachariadis, the proceedings of the Congress were opened by Takis Hadjidimitriou “who also introduced the Presidium. Mr. Gogos Cacogiannis, lawyer, member of the Limassol Provisional Committee, was elected as President of the Congress, and the members were the Reverend Papacharalambos from Tseri, Petros Stylianou, Christoforos Christofides, Takis Hadjidimitriou and Andreas Christofides”.

At the Founding Conference, Vassos Lyssaridis spoke about 2.5 and set the ideological basis on which EDEK is based:

1. Support for all liberation movements.
2. The condemnation of colonization and post-colonization, as well as the exploitation of peoples and their national economic or other oppression.
3. The condemnation of racist regimes and tendencies.
4. Support for the Non-Aligned Movement.

Among other things in his speech he said:

“We set out to create a better world. We know that struggles, sacrifices, difficulties and dangers await us. Struggles are not won with indifference or timid interest. Our responsibilities are enormous. From us the people demand leadership and pioneering struggles and sacrifices. We have no right to betray the expectations of the people. The fate and struggle of democracy are in good hands. Our own honest people’s hands […]”.

According to Spyros Zachariadis, upon the completion of V. Lyssaridis’ speech, “MP Mr. Petros Stylianou took the floor, who analyzed the party’s organizational program. He was followed on the podium by Mr. Andreas Christodoulides, who read the internal regulations under which the party would operate until the next Congress, when the full statute of the party would be voted on. Then, representatives of the various provinces addressed the Congress. Mr. Christoforos Christofides spoke for the Larnaca province, Mr. Patrikios Pavlou for Limassol, Mr. Stavros Kantis for Paphos, Mr. Ioakeim Kallis for Famagusta and Mr. Petros Frakalas for Kyrenia. Greetings were also delivered on behalf of the United Democratic Youth Union (EDEN) by Mr. Zenon Katsouris and on behalf of the Student Youth by Mr. Andreas Christodoulides.

After the speeches, a discussion was held on various programmatic and organizational issues. Subsequently, Mr. Christoforos Christofides proposed that MP Dr. Vassos Lyssaridis be elected as the party leader. The delegates, standing with enthusiastic expressions, expressed their consent and approval of the proposal.

Then the members of the Central Council, numbering 150, from all the provinces, and the members of the Political Bureau, consisting of 34 people, were elected. The Political Bureau, which would meet later, would elect the Central Secretariat of the party.

In the parliamentary elections of June 1970, EDEK won 6.63% and 2 seats: Vassos Lyssaridis in Nicosia and Christoforos Christofides in Larnaca.

As Spyros Zachariadis aptly states, the establishment of EDEK “emerged as a necessity of that era for the creation of organized political life, as the newly established Republic of Cyprus was already celebrating ten years of statehood.

The party’s platform was socialist from the very beginning, aspiring to include, along with the traditional center, the fringes of the Right and the fringes of the Left. This is why it was later renamed the Socialist Party of Greece (EDEK), by decision of the Party Congress […].

The E.D.E.K. was born, grew to manhood and matured in quite difficult times for itself and for Cyprus. Despite all the adversities, it managed to overcome the difficulties at times and with consistency and fighting spirit stood as a guardian of national and popular rights. Thus, it became recognized in the consciousness of the people as a genuine democratic and patriotic force.

Since then, faithful to its principles and declarations, it has remained a significant political force in Cyprus, present and a pioneer in all the struggles of Cypriot Hellenism for its natural and national survival.”

Sources:

• Agon, “Dr. Lyssarides and Samson also announce parties”, February 6, 1969.

• Adamidou Maro, Vasos Lyssaridis, From the Depths, An Account of Life and Struggles, Nicosia, 2018, pp. 135-136.

• Spyros Zachariadis Archive.

• Zavou Soula, The political parties of Cyprus in the 20th century, Nicosia 2002, pp. 47, 254.

• Lyssaridis Vassos, Speech by Vassos Lyssaridis at the Pancyprian Founding Conference of EDEK, EDEK Press and Information Office, May 1970.

• Phileleftheros, “Lyssarides announced the beginnings of EDEK yesterday”, February 26, 1969.

• Haravgi, “V. Lyssaridis’ party establishes a youth organization”, February 15, 1969.