Δημοκρατικός Συναγερμός (DISY – Democratic Rally)
EU RANK: 101 (Tier 3: Moderate Performance)
Democratic Rally (DISY) is a liberal‑conservative, pro‑EU and pro‑NATO party and, together with AKEL, one of Cyprus’s two main parties. It has led multiple governments and presidents, championing market‑oriented reforms, European integration and a generally pro‑Western foreign policy.
Disinformation and alternative media
DISY enjoys strong access to mainstream private broadcasters, major portals and newspapers, and runs professional digital campaigns. Its official messaging is pro‑EU, pro‑business and pro‑solution to the Cyprus problem, though internal factions sometimes diverge on the details.
While DISY‑aligned commentators and outlets have been accused of biased coverage and negative campaigning against rivals, especially AKEL and smaller parties, systematic reliance on conspiratorial or clearly fabricated narratives is limited compared to far‑right actors. Disinformation/alternative‑media risk is medium.
Foreign influence and external alignments
DISY is firmly Atlanticist, supporting EU and NATO‑linked security cooperation, and has favoured robust EU sanctions against Russia after the invasion of Ukraine, despite Cyprus’s traditional economic links to Russian capital. As a governing party, it oversaw efforts to clean up the “golden passports” scheme under EU pressure, though critics argue reforms came late.
Structural vulnerabilities remain in sectors like banking, corporate services and energy, but DISY’s strategic orientation is clearly pro‑Western. Foreign‑influence DMI risk is low–medium.
Media capture, advertising and public service media
Our Cyprus media‑influence study identifies extensive interconnections between DISY‑linked elites, major private TV channels and corporate advertisers, particularly in banking, construction and telecoms. Governments associated with DISY have had strong influence over appointments to the public broadcaster RIK and regulatory bodies, raising concerns about subtle steering of editorial lines.
State and parastatal advertising has at times disproportionately benefited large private broadcasters whose coverage is seen as favourable to ruling coalitions, which watchdogs regard as a form of soft media capture. DISY’s media‑capture risk is medium–high.
Corruption, litigation and institutional integrity
DISY‑led governments have been deeply implicated in the “golden passports” scandal and related issues of money‑laundering and lax due‑diligence systems, which prompted EU infringement procedures and major reputational damage. Litigation sources list multiple investigations and court cases involving officials associated with or appointed under DISY governments in areas such as public procurement, banking supervision and development permits.
Although reforms have followed external pressure, domestic critics argue that accountability for past abuses remains partial and that networks of influence in corporate services and large projects are still powerful. DMI corruption and institutional‑integrity risk is high.
Press freedom, harassment and treatment of media
Cyprus maintains a relatively pluralistic media environment, but our research notes patterns of preferential access and advertising for outlets close to governing elites, and marginalisation or legal threats against particularly critical journalists during DISY‑led administrations. Some high‑profile investigative reports on passports and banking met with initial official hostility, including public attacks on the credibility of journalists and leaks about their supposed motives.
At the same time, DISY has not pursued systematic criminalisation of journalism; pressures tend to be economic (advertising, access) and reputational rather than overtly coercive. Press‑freedom and harassment DMI risk is medium–high.