What matters is the trend emerging within the electorate ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections and, more importantly, whether this trend is consolidating. It is clear that the far-right party ELAM has begun to occupy a significant space in the political landscape, having been normalised and whitewashed by the very political system that once shunned it. For example, ELAM voted with other parties to elect the President of the House of Representatives as a result of backroom dealings and a mere nod!
ELAM first came to prominence when it began attracting voters from almost all parties (in the most recent public opinion poll by ‘Kathimerini’, only the Green Party was exempt from this trend). This development sparked a reaction from almost all parties, although AKEL had long ago taken this turn.
This rise of the far-right is not just a Cypriot issue but a European and international phenomenon
It is clear that the rise of the far-right is not merely a Cypriot problem but an international one. It is a European phenomenon, with various iterations such as Meloni and Le Pen. But it is also present across the Atlantic, with the potential return of Donald Trump to the US presidency. Unfortunately, prolonged social inequalities and wars that create refugee flows have strengthened the far-right. This is because the system cannot provide solutions as it is part of the crisis. Crises sustain the far-right, and it thrives on them.
Regarding the Cypriot case, the issue revolves around similar concerns as elsewhere. The primary focus is on immigration, which, incidentally, is largely being addressed without the foolish far-right ideas. At the same time, the far-right capitalises on the discrediting of institutions and the political system.
However, the reason why the far-right can offer a seemingly attractive alternative lies in the tactics employed by the parties of the democratic spectrum. ELAM has managed, perhaps unintentionally, to set the agenda for discussions in the public sphere, and unfortunately, other parties are quick to follow suit. Additionally, ELAM is often referenced in party disputes (e.g., DISY’s attacks on AKEL).
This strategy does not seem to weaken the far-right, despite ELAM’s missteps during the pre-election period. The presence of its President at the Tamassos Bishopric that night and the scandal involving the Saint Habakkuk Monastery, as well as the blunder with the granting of passports to migrants, should have cost them support. However, at present, it does not appear to have affected them significantly.
It is clear that ELAM aims to represent a segment of Cypriot society that rejects traditional parties and believes that radicalisation lies in embracing the far-right. And given that ELAM has undergone various normalisation processes, most recently forming a ‘majority’ for the election of the House President, it won’t be long before they attempt to expand their influence further to the right. This will spell a nightmare not only for DISY but also for other parties, and most importantly, for society as a whole.
The focus should not be on judging the actions or inactions of parties and stakeholders but on what the future holds. And the far-right can only be countered through effective policies and the resolution of pressing issues.
All countries have negative experiences with fascism, but we still live with its consequences. Greece and Cyprus have experienced fascism, suffered, and continue to live with its political implications today. Notable sad moments include political persecutions in Greece, the seven-year rule of the colonels in 1967, and the coup d’état by the junta and EOKA B’ in Cyprus, which led to the Turkish invasion and the ongoing occupation.
For this reason, their descendants must not be allowed to gain ground through ‘normalisation’.
