Dimitris Christofias

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Dimitris Christofias (Greek Δημήτρης Χριστόφιας) is a Cypriot politician, the current President of the Republic of Cyprus.

Christofias was born on August 29, 1946, in 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 still holds 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% of the vote.


Preceded by:
Tassos Papadopoulos
President of Cyprus
2008
Succeeded by:
Incumbent