Dimitris Christofias 3658579 222823086 2008-07-01T08:12:18Z Closedmouth 372693 Reverted 2 edits by [[Special:Contributions/213.7.61.84|213.7.61.84]] to last version by 81.79.76.239 (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]]) {{Infobox President | image = Replace this image male.svg <!-- only free-content images are allowed for depicting living people - see [[WP:NONFREE]] --> | | name = Dimitris Christofias<br>Δημήτρης Χριστόφιας | order = [[President of Cyprus]]<!-- Please do not add his order, it is against WP:MOS, unused and clutter --> | term_start = [[28 February]] [[2008]] | predecessor = [[Tassos Papadopoulos]] | order2 = [[House of Representatives of Cyprus#Presidents of the House of Representatives|President of the House of Representatives]]<!-- Please do not add his order, it is against WP:MOS, unused and clutter --> | term_start2 = [[7 June]] [[2001]] | term_end2 = [[28 February]] [[2008]] | predecessor2 = [[Spyros Kyprianou]] | successor2 = [[Marios Karoyian]] | order3 = General Secretary of [[AKEL]] | term_start3 = [[22 April]] [[1988]] | term_end3 = | predecessor3 = [[Ezekias Papaioannou]] | successor3 = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1946|8|29|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Dikomo]], [[Cyprus]] | spouse = [[Elsie Chiratou]] | party = [[Progressive Party of Working People|AKEL]] | religion = [[Atheism|Atheist]]<ref>[http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=27937&archive=1 "Church elections: how it works"], Cyprus Mail, [[17 September]] [[2006]]</ref> }} '''Dimitris Christofias''' ({{lang-el|Δημήτρης Χριστόφιας}}) is a [[left-wing politics|left-wing]] [[Greek Cypriots|Greek]] [[Cyprus|Cypriot]] politician and the current and sixth [[President of Cyprus|President of the Republic of Cyprus]]. Christofias is the General Secretary of [[Progressive Party of Working People|AKEL]], a [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninist]] party,<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/24/cyprus "Cyprus gets ready for a communist 'takeover'"], The Observer, [[24 February]] [[2008]].</ref> and is Cyprus's first, and the [[European Union]]'s first and so far only, [[communism|communist]] head of state. He won the [[Cypriot presidential election, 2008|2008 Cypriot presidential elections]] in the 2nd round of voting. Throughout the election campaign, he pledged to restart talks with [[Turkish Cypriots]] in order to find a solution to the [[Cyprus dispute]] and reunify the island. He has also supported the closure of the [[Akrotiri and Dhekelia|British military bases on Cyprus]].<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/25/cyprus.greece "Cyprus elects its first communist president"], The Guardian, [[25 February]] [[2008]].</ref> == Early life == He was born on [[29 August]] [[1946]] in the village of Dhikomo, [[Kyrenia District|Kyrenia]]. Christofias became involved in leftist politics early in his youth and held several positions with the youth movement of [[AKEL]] (the Progressive Party of the Working People of Cyprus). His father, who died in 1987, was a progressive builder, member of the [[Pancyprian Federation of Labour]] (PEO). He had his secondary-school education at Nicosia Commercial Lyceum, from where he graduated in 1964. At the age of 14, he joined the progressive secondary-school students’ organisation PEOM and at the age of 18 he joined EDON (AKEL's United Democratic Youth Organisation), PEO Trade Unions and AKEL. In 1969, at the 5th Congress of EDON, he was elected member of the Central Council. Dimitris Christofias studied at the Institute of Social Sciences and the Academy of Social Sciences in [[Moscow]] from 1969 to 1974 from which he graduated with the Diploma and degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History (Ph.D.History). In Moscow he met his wife, Elsie Chiratou, and later returned to Cyprus and political life. == Public figure == In 1974 he was elected to the post of the Central Organising Secretary of EDON and in 1977 of General Secretary. At this post he served till 1987. In 1976 he was elected member of the [[Nicosia District|Nicosia]]-[[Kyrenia District]] Committee of AKEL, and in 1982 – at the 15th Congress of AKEL – he was elected member of the Central Committee of the Party. In July 1986 he was elected alternate member of the Political Bureau of the C.C. of AKEL. After the 16th Congress of AKEL, held in November 1986, he was elected full member of the P.B. of C.C. AKEL and in 1987 (after terminating his service as General Secretary of EDON) he was elected member of the Secretariat of C.C. AKEL. In April 1988, following the death of [[Ezekias Papaioannou]], he was elected General Secretary of the C.C. AKEL, a post he still holds. == Rise to local leadership == Dimitris Christofias was elected Member of the House of Representatives for the first time in 1991 and was re-elected in the subsequent [[Elections in Cyprus|parliamentary elections]] of 1996 and 2001. On [[7 June]] [[2001]] he was elected President of the [[House of Representatives of Cyprus|House of Representatives]]. He was re-elected as president of the House of Representatives in 2006. In his function of General Secretary of the C.C. AKEL and President of the House of Representatives, he was a Member of the National Council, a supreme advisory body to the President of the Republic. He was ''ex officio'' chairman of the House Standing Committee on Selection and chairman of the Ad Hoc House Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and of the Special House Standing Committee on Declaration and Examination of Property. He was also president of the executive committees of the Cyprus Group to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (I.P.U.) and of the Cyprus Branch of the [[Commonwealth Parliamentary Association]] (C.P.A.). Dimitris Christofias is married to Elsie (Chiratou) Christofias (1972) and they have three children – two daughters, Marianna and Christina, and a son, Christos. He is a recipient of a living-related [[kidney transplant]], donated by his sister.<ref>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=FACTBOX - Five facts about Cyprus leftist Christofias | date=Sunday, February 24, 2008 | publisher=Reuters | url =http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20080224/tts-uk-cyprus-election-christofias-ca02f96.html | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2008-02-24 | language = }}</ref> == 2008 election == The first round of the [[Cypriot presidential election, 2008|February 2008 presidential election]], held on [[17 February]], saw a close result between the three leading candidates—Christofias, [[Ioannis Kasoulides]] of [[DISY]], and the incumbent [[Tassos Papadopoulos]]—Christofias narrowly placing second with 33.3% of the vote, behind Kasoulidis with 33.5%. Christofias and Kasoulidis participated in a second round on [[February 24]]<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/17/news/Cyprus-Election.php "Incumbent eliminated from Cyprus presidential election in major surprise"], Associated Press (''International Herald Tribune''), [[17 February]] [[2008]].</ref> for which Christofias received the backing of Papadopoulos's party, [[DIKO]].<ref>[http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23250278-1702,00.html "Communist chief gains edge in Cyprus poll"], AFP (news.com.au), [[21 February]] [[2008]].</ref> Christofias went on to win the election with 53.37% of the vote.<ref name=Results>{{cite news|publisher=Cypriot government|url=http://www.ekloges.gov.cy/index.aspx?ci=en-GB|title=Presidential Election 2008: Run-off Election: Official results|date=2008-02-24|accessdate=2008-02-24}}</ref>After his success he pledged to restart talks to find a solution to reunify the island. In addressing a jubilant crowd waving Cypriot and [[Che Guevara]] flags in the Cyprus capital Nicosia's streets the new president-elect said he looked forward to "substantial cooperation for the benefit of both communities." <ref name=cnnfeb24>{{cite news|publisher=CNN|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/02/24/cyprus.election.ap/index.html|title=Christofias wins Cyprus presidency|date=2008-02-24|accessdate=2008-02-25}}</ref> "Tomorrow, a new day begins. We will see many difficulties ahead of us. As of tomorrow, we unite our forces…to achieve the reunification of our country,"<ref>http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-02-24-cyprus-elections_N.htm USA Today "Christofias wins Cyprus presidential election" 25 February 2008</ref> Christofias was sworn in as President at a ceremony in the House of Representatives on [[February 28]], [[2008]], vowing that "the solution of the Cyprus problem will be the top priority of my government".<ref>[http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/28/content_7689565.htm "New Cyprus president takes office with pledge for solution"], Xinhua (''People's Daily Online''), February 28, 2008.</ref> Although proud to be a communist, he says he will leave the free market economy alone.<ref>[http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKL2442130720080224?sp=true Reuters "Communist Christofias Wins Cyprus Presidential Vote" February 24 2008]</ref> While much of the focus beyond Cyprus has been on Mr Christofias's communist background and education in Moscow, on the island voters have been more concerned with a solution to Europe's longest running conflict<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/europe/leftist-victory-revives-hopes-for-a-united-cyprus-786852.html The Independent "Leftist victory revives hopes for a united Cyprus" Monday 25 February 2008]</ref>, the island's partition since 1974. == Symbolism of his election == [[Lothar Bisky]], the Chairperson of the [[Party of the European Left]], said in a message of congratulation: "The success of Dimitris Christofias is a hope for the working people in Cyprus and an important step towards a peaceful solution of the Cyprus problem. And it is also a great encouragement for the left in Europe."<ref> [http://www.european-left.org/nc/english/news/news_archive/news_archive/zurueck/latest-news-home/artikel/congratulations-dimitris-christofias-president-of-the-republic-of-cyprus "Congratulations! Dimitris Christofias: President of the Republic of Cyprus"], [[Party of the European Left]], 24 February 2008</ref> [[Robert Griffiths (politician)|Robert Griffiths]], the General Secretary of the [[Communist Party of Britain]], said: "This result is of key importance for the future of all the working people of Cyprus. It is also a result of international significance that will hearten Communists and progressives the world over."<ref>[http://www.communist-party.org.uk/index.php?file=newsTemplate&story=285 "Communist Wins Cypriot Presidential election"], [[Communist Party of Britain]], 25 February 2008</ref> == References == {{Reflist|2}} == External links == *'''(el)''' [http://www.christofias.com.cy/ Official web site of Dimitris Christofias] {{start box}} {{s-off}} {{Incumbent succession box | title = [[President of Cyprus]] | before = [[Tassos Papadopoulos]] | start = 2008 }} {{Succession box | title = President of the [[House of Representatives of Cyprus|House of Representatives]] | before = [[Spyros Kyprianou]] | after = [[Marios Karoyian]] | years = 2001 – 2008 }} {{s-ppo}} {{Incumbent succession box | title = Secretary General of [[AKEL]] | before = [[Ezekias Papaioannou]] | start = 1988 }} {{end box}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Christofias, Dimitris}} {{CypriotPresidents}} {{European Council}} [[Category:1946 births]] [[Category:Communist rulers]] [[Category:Current national leaders]] [[Category:Cypriot atheists]] [[Category:Cypriot communists]] [[Category:Cypriot refugees]] [[Category:Leaders of political parties in Cyprus]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Presidents of Cyprus]] [[ar:ديميتريس كريستوفياس]] [[cs:Dimitris Christofias]] [[de:Dimitris Christofias]] [[et:Dimítris Christófias]] [[el:Δημήτρης Χριστόφιας]] [[es:Dimitris Christofias]] [[eo:Demetris Kristofias]] [[fr:Dimitris Christofias]] [[it:Dimitris Christofias]] [[he:דמיטריס כריסטופיאס]] [[lb:Dimitris Christofias]] [[lt:Dimitris Christofias]] [[nn:Dimitris Khristofias]] [[oc:Dimitris Christofias]] [[pl:Dimitris Christofias]] [[ru:Христофиас, Димитрис]] [[fi:Dimitris Christofias]] [[sv:Dimitris Christofias]] [[tr:Dimitris Hristofyas]] [[zh:季米特里斯·赫里斯托菲亚斯]]