Difference between revisions of "Dimitris Christofias"
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| − | '''Dimitris Christofias''' (Greek Δημήτρης Χριστόφιας) | + | [[Image:Dimitris_Christofias_01.jpg|thumb|250|[[Dimitris Christofias]], President of [[Cyprus]]]] |
| + | '''Dimitris Christofias''' (Greek Δημήτρης Χριστόφιας) was a Cypriot politician and a former President of the Republic of [[Cyprus]]. | ||
| − | + | Christofias was born on [[August 29]], [[1946]], in [[Kato Dikomo]], [[Kerynia province]] in occupied [[Cyprus]]. He became involved in leftist politics early in his youth and held several positions with the youth movement of [[AKEL]]. He studied in Moscow where he met his wife, Elsie Chiratou, returning to Cyprus and political life. | |
| − | Christofias | + | In [[1988]], following the death of [[Ezekias Papaioannou]], Christofias was elected Secretary General of [[AKEL]], a position he retained until [[2009]], through successive reelections. |
| − | In [[ | + | He served as a member of the [[House of Representatives of Cyprus]] since [[1991]] and as its president between [[2001]] and [[2008]]. |
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| + | Christofias declared himself a candidate for the Presidency of Cyprus. In the first round of the 2008 Presidential elections, on [[February 17]], he placed second with 33.29% of the vote. In the runoff, he defeated [[Ioannis Kasoulidis]] of the [[DISY]] party, with 53.36% of the vote. | ||
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| + | Christofias' presidency was marked by continuous negotiations for the reunification of [[Cyprus]] with Turkish-Cypriot leaders Mehmet Ali Talat and, after April [[2010]], Dervis Eroglu. | ||
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| + | During his term of office, the blast at Mari Naval Base took place ([[July 11]], [[2011]]) for which he was heavily criticised. | ||
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| + | Near the end of Christofias' presidency, [[Cyprus]] was forced to seek an EU bailout after economic woes partially caused by heavy exposure to the debt of mainland [[Greece]]. | ||
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| + | Christofias did not seek re-election and was replaced by [[DISY]] leader [[Nikos Anastasiades]]. | ||
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| + | He died on [[June 21]], [[2019]]. | ||
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| + | {{start box}} | ||
| + | {{succession box|title=[[List of Presidents of Cyprus|President of Cyprus]]|before=[[Tassos Papadopoulos]]|after=[[Nikos Anastasiades]]|years=[[2008]] - [[2013]]}} | ||
| + | {{end box}} | ||
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[[Category:1946 births|Christofias, Dimitris]] | [[Category:1946 births|Christofias, Dimitris]] | ||
| + | [[Category:2019 deaths|Christofias, Dimitris]] | ||
[[Category:Cypriot politicians|Christofias, Dimitris]] | [[Category:Cypriot politicians|Christofias, Dimitris]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Communists|Christofias, Dimitris]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Presidents of Cyprus|Christofias, Dimitris]] | ||
Latest revision as of 07:32, June 24, 2019
Dimitris Christofias (Greek Δημήτρης Χριστόφιας) was a Cypriot politician and a former President of the Republic of Cyprus.
Christofias was born on August 29, 1946, in Kato Dikomo, Kerynia province in occupied Cyprus. He became involved in leftist politics early in his youth and held several positions with the youth movement of AKEL. He studied in Moscow where he met his wife, Elsie Chiratou, returning to Cyprus and political life.
In 1988, following the death of Ezekias Papaioannou, Christofias was elected Secretary General of AKEL, a position he retained until 2009, through successive reelections.
He served as a member of the House of Representatives of Cyprus since 1991 and as its president between 2001 and 2008.
Christofias declared himself a candidate for the Presidency of Cyprus. In the first round of the 2008 Presidential elections, on February 17, he placed second with 33.29% of the vote. In the runoff, he defeated Ioannis Kasoulidis of the DISY party, with 53.36% of the vote.
Christofias' presidency was marked by continuous negotiations for the reunification of Cyprus with Turkish-Cypriot leaders Mehmet Ali Talat and, after April 2010, Dervis Eroglu.
During his term of office, the blast at Mari Naval Base took place (July 11, 2011) for which he was heavily criticised.
Near the end of Christofias' presidency, Cyprus was forced to seek an EU bailout after economic woes partially caused by heavy exposure to the debt of mainland Greece.
Christofias did not seek re-election and was replaced by DISY leader Nikos Anastasiades.
| Preceded by: Tassos Papadopoulos |
President of Cyprus 2008 - 2013 |
Succeeded by: Nikos Anastasiades |
