Democratic People's Party (Northern Cyprus) Explained

The Democratic People's Party (Turkish: Demokratik Halk Partisi) was a conservative political party in Northern Cyprus.

History

The party was established in 1979 by defectors from the National Unity Party led by Nejat Konuk.[1] The party began with five members of the National Council,[1] and gained a sixth in 1981 when the Populist Party merged into it.[2]

The 1981 elections saw the party reduced to only three seats due to voter dissatisfaction with the territory's conservative parties.[1] The party's presidential candidate Husamettin Tanyar finished fourth with 4.8% of the vote.[1] Following the election Konuk was elected Speaker. The party failed to win a seat in the 1985 elections, and did not contest any further elections.[3]

Ideology

The party claimed to hold social democratic principles, but was opposed to state intervention in the economy.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Vincent E. McHale (1983) Political parties of Europe, Greenwood Press, p114
  2. McHale, p122
  3. http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/ncyprus2.html Northern Cyprus
  4. McHale, p115