Both communities had soon developed political systems on the European model, with parties representing mainstream political opinion from right to the left.

Greek Cypriots have two older parties dating from before 1970, the Progressive Party of the Working People (Anorthotikon Komma Ergazomenou Laou—AKEL) and the United Democratic Union of Cyprus (Eniea Dimokratiki Enosis Kyprou— EDEK), generally called the Socialist Party EDEK (Socialistiko Komma EDEK), and some had formed after the events of 1974.

The two most important of these newer parties are the Democratic Party (Dimokratiko Komma—DIKO) and the Democratic Rally (Dimokratikos Synagermos—DISY).

Both of these parties are on the right, with DIKO headed by Spyros Kyprianou, who had replaced Makarios as president after the latter's death in 1977, and DISY led by veteran politician Glafkos Clerides.