Dimitris Christofias

Dimitris Christofias (Greek Δημήτρης Χριστόφιας) is a Cypriot politician.

He was born on August 29, 1946, in Dikomo, Kerynia province in occupied Cyprus.

Christofias 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 serves as a member of the House of Representatives of Cyprus since 1991 and as its president since 2001.

Christofias is 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 and will face Ioannis Kasoulidis of the DISY party.