Crowds, blue and white flags in the air, smiles, huddled conversations and, notably, a few absences. Disy celebrated its 50th anniversary at the old GSP stadium square, in an evening that functioned both as a display of party unity and as an informal test of strength for the figures who still pull the strings within the movement.
Averof Neophytou appeared to begin warming up for the coming presidential race from the moment he arrived, and did not limit himself to a few formal greetings. His presence on the ground was constant and unmistakable, as he moved easily through the crowd, showing every intention of connecting and engaging.
He worked his way from person to person, stopping at small groups, shaking hands and exchanging words with party officials and members. His mobility, and his insistence on speaking with as many people as possible, gave the impression of a politician determined to keep his relationship with the party base alive.
Annita arrives in a winning mood
If Averof won early impressions before the event began, Annita Demetriou clearly took over once she arrived.
The party leader was received with loud, sustained applause, a sign that enthusiasm is still running high after the party's first-place finish in the parliamentary election.
Her walk to her seat turned into something of a small ceremony. She greeted people to her left and right, stopped for handshakes, and accepted congratulations, all while the applause continued.
The loudest presence was an absence
Despite the many familiar faces on hand, the one most talked about in the evening's side conversations was someone who did not appear: Nicos Anastasiades.
The absence of the former president of the republic, honorary president of Disy and one of the most central figures in the party's history, was inevitably conspicuous at an event dedicated to the movement's 50 years.
On a night filled with constant references to the party's history, its governments and its political journey, the gap left by Anastasiades could not be filled by the anniversary videos or the official speeches.
No public comment was needed from the stage. The commentary happened quietly, among those in attendance.
The official start time had been set earlier, but the programme did not actually begin until around 8pm. The delay was not entirely awkward. It gave more time for handshakes, photographs and behind-the-scenes conversations, with party officials moving between the rows and small groups constantly reshuffling. By the time the lights dimmed and the historical video on Disy's founding began, a large part of the political evening had already played out away from the microphones.
Representatives of Disy's affiliated organisations took to the podium one after another, but the crowd's reactions were not uniformly enthusiastic. The appearance of Dimos Georgiadis, president of Nedisy and MP for Kyrenia, stood out. He spoke with intensity and passion and earned one of the strongest rounds of applause of the evening's first half. The audience's response suggested that the party's younger generation of officials and members was not simply there to fill out the programme. For Christos Fotiou, president of Protoporia, the evening carried a different weight. It was his last appearance in that role, as his term was coming to an end.
The slip of the tongue
The moment that broke the evening's formality came courtesy of Kyriakos Kailas, president of the farmers' union.
Caught up in the enthusiasm, he declared himself proud of Disy, before correcting himself to say he had meant the union.
The correction drew laughter and reaction from the crowd. A voice from the front rows was heard responding, "it's the same thing", drawing smiles from those present and fresh applause.
On the official side of the evening, particular attention was drawn to remarks by Greece's education minister, Sofia Zacharaki, on the education of students in Greece, who have for the past year been taught about the EOKA liberation struggle and the Cyprus problem.
This followed a recorded video greeting from Manfred Weber, president of the European People's Party, who provided the necessary European framing for an event that sought to underline both the Cypriot and European roots of the party.
When Annita Demetriou finished her speech, the atmosphere changed immediately. Those in attendance rose to their feet and began waving Greek and Cypriot flags amid prolonged applause and an atmosphere of celebration.
