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Spyros Kyprianou

Spyros Achilleos Kyprianou (Greek Σπύρος Αχιλλέως Κυπριανού) was a Cypriot political figure and President of Cyprus between 1977 and 1988.

Kyprianou was born in Lemesos, Cyprus, on October 28, 1932. He studied economics at the City of London College and Law at Grey's Inn, earning his law degree in 1954. During that time, he served as Secretary to Archbishop Makarios III, in London, in charge of public relations and enlightment concerning the Cyprus problem.

When the EOKA struggle for liberation from Britain and union with Greece broke out, Kyprianou was ordered to leave Britain. He took up residence in Athens where he became involved with PEKA - the political wing of EOKA.

He returned to Cyprus after independence and became the first Cypriot foreign minister, serving from 1960 until 1972.

In 1976, he founded of the Democratic Party of Cyprus "ΔΗ.ΚΟ." which, in the parliamentary elections of September 5, 1976, won 21 seats out of a total of 35 in the House of Representatives. Kyprianou was elected President of the House.

Following the death of Archbishop Makarios III on August 3, 1977, he became acting President of Cyprus. On September 3, 1977, he was unanimously elected President of the Republic to serve out the remaining term of office of Archbishop Makarios. He was re-elected on February 28, 1978 (unopposed), and on February 13, 1983.

In the 1988 presidential elections he was defeated in his bid for a third term by George Vasiliou.

Kyprianou served again as speaker of the House of Representatives of Cyprus between 1996 and 2001.

He retired from politics in May 2001 and passed away on March 12, 2002, after a long bout with cancer. His son, Markos Kyprianou, is involved in present-day Cypriot politics.


Preceded by:
Makarios III
President of Cyprus
1977– 1988
Succeeded by:
George Vasiliou