The Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL) (Greek: Ανορθωτικό Κόμμα Εργαζόμενου Λαού) is a socialist party in Cyprus. It was founded in 1926 with the name Communist party of Cyprus. It became illegal in 1931 when the British colonial government imposed restrictions in civil rights following a nationalist riot. In 1941, leading members of the underground communist party and others founded AKEL. In the first municipal elections in 1943 (before that mayors were appointed) AKEL candidates became mayors of Limassol (Ploutis Servas)and Famagusta (Adam Adamantos). List of general secretaries:
AKEL opposed to the use of violence by EOKA. For this reason its members were considered traitors and sometimes were even killed by EOKA. Such was the case of Savas Menikou, a poor working class supporter of AKEL who was stoned to death.
At about 1958, the Turkish Cypriot nationalist organization TMT started forcing turkish cypriots members of AKEL to leave. Editor of a workers newspaper Fazil Onder was killed and the head of the turkish bureau of PEO (AKEL's trade union) Ahmet Sadi moved to the UK to save his life.
In the first presidential elections for independent Cyprus, AKEL backed Ioannis Kliridis (father of Glafkos Klerides) against Makarios III. The last turkish cypriot to be a member of the central comitee of AKEL, Derviş Ali Kavazoğlu was killed by TMT in 1965.
It is an observer member of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left in the European Parliament. Cyprus joined the EU in 2004.
External Link
AKEL's web site in English (http://www.akel.org.cy/English/akel.html)
The Plenum of the Central Committee of AKEL met on the 21st of May 2007 to deal with the issue of the Presidential elections which are due to be held in February 2008.
09.03.07 AKEL greets the decision taken by the government of the Republic of Cyprus to demolish the wall at the military observation post of the National Guard in Ledra Street.
03.11.06 G.S. of the C.C. of AKEL Demetris Christofias's speech at the bi-communal meeting organised by the Famagusta District Committees of AKEL and RTP.
AKEL unlike its predecessor was not against Enosis but supported a gradual process, starting off with a constitution and self government while Cyprus would remain a colony, leading to self determination and Enosis.
During the late fifties, AKEL was opposed to the violent tactics followed by the anti-British resistance movement of EOKA.
AKEL remained first political party on the island in the 2006 Cypriot legislative elections, however the party lost 2 seats in the parliament (gained 18 seats).
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