Demetris Christofias

Demetris Christofias was born on 29 August 1946 in Kato Dikomo, British Cyprus, to a Greek Cypriot family.{{cite web|url=http://www.presidency.gov.cy/presidency/presidency.nsf/prc01_en/prc01_en?opendocument |title=Christofias Demetris. Curriculum Vitae|publisher=President of Cyprus|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405001140/http://www.presidency.gov.cy/presidency/presidency.nsf/prc01_en/prc01_en?OpenDocument |archive-date=April 5, 2013|access-date=September 10, 2020}} He had a sister who once donated her kidney to him for a life-saving kidney transplant.{{cite news | author=Michele Kambas| title=FACTBOX — Five facts about Cyprus leftist Christofias | publisher=Reuters|date=February 24, 2008|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cyprus-election-christofias-idUSL1768541220080217|access-date=September 10, 2020}} He received his high school education at Nicosia Commercial Lyceum, from which he graduated in 1964. He spent five years in Moscow, where he earned a PhD in history from the Russian Academy of Sciences.

File:Rabbi Arie Zeev Raskin meets the President of Cyprus Mr. Dimitris Christofias.jpg in 2008]]

At the age of 14, Christofias joined PEOM, a progressive high school student organisation. At the age of 18, he joined PEO Trade Unions and the Progressive Party of Working People's youth branch United Democratic Youth Organisation. In 1969, at the 5th Congress of EDON, he was elected member of the Central Council.

In 1974 Christofias was elected to the post of the Central Organising Secretary of EDON and in 1977 to the post of General Secretary. He served in the latter post until 1987. In 1976 he was elected as a member of the Nicosia-Kyrenia District Committee of AKEL, and in 1982 – at the 15th Congress of AKEL – he was elected as a member of the Central Committee of the Party.

In July 1986, Christofias was elected as an alternate member of the Political Bureau of AKEL. After the 16th Congress of AKEL, held in November 1986, he was elected as a full member of the Political Bureau, and in 1987 (after terminating his service as General Secretary of EDON) he was elected as a member of the AKEL Secretariat. In April 1988, following the death of Ezekias Papaioannou, he was elected as General Secretary of AKEL, a post he held until 2009.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

Christofias was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives for the first time in 1991 and was re-elected in the subsequent parliamentary elections of 1996 and 2001. On 7 June 2001, he was elected as President of the House of Representatives. He was re-elected as President of the House of Representatives in 2006. In his function as General Secretary of 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.

Christofias 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 and of the Cyprus branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

File:Demetris Christofias with Obamas.jpg and Michelle Obama in 2009]]

The first round of the 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 24 February,{{cite news |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/17/news/Cyprus-Election.php |title=Incumbent eliminated from Cyprus presidential election in major surprise |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081215151011/http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/17/news/Cyprus-Election.php |archive-date=15 December 2008 |agency=Associated Press |work=International Herald Tribune |date=17 February 2008}} for which Christofias received the backing of Papadopoulos's party DIKO.{{cite web |url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0%2C23599%2C23250278-1702%2C00.html |title=Communist chief gains edge in Cyprus poll |access-date=20 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116104510/http://www.news.com.au/story/0%2C23599%2C23250278-1702%2C00.html |archive-date=16 January 2009 |website=AFP (news.com.au) |date=21 February 2008}} Christofias went on to win the election with 53.37% of the vote.{{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=24 February 2008 |access-date=24 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102142751/http://www.ekloges.gov.cy/index.aspx?ci=en-GB |archive-date=2 November 2007}} After his success, he stated his support for the closure of Cyprus' British military bases{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/feb/25/cyprus.greece|title=Cyprus elects its first communist president|author=Helena Smith|work=The Guardian|date=February 25, 2008|access-date=September 10, 2020}} and pledged to restart talks to find a solution to the Cyprus problem. Addressing a crowd in Nicosia, he said he looked forward to "substantial cooperation for the benefit of both communities".{{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=24 February 2008 |access-date=25 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080229001913/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/02/24/cyprus.election.ap/index.html |archive-date=29 February 2008}}{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-02-24-cyprus-elections_N.htm |website=USA Today |title=Christofias wins Cyprus presidential election |date=25 February 2008 |access-date=17 December 2011}}

Christofias was sworn in as president at a ceremony in the House of Representatives on 28 February 2008, vowing that "the solution of the Cyprus problem will be the top priority of [his] government".{{cite news |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/28/content_7689565.htm |title=New Cyprus president takes office with pledge for solution |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080303075841/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/28/content_7689565.htm |archive-date=3 March 2008 |work=Xinhua News Agency |date=28 February 2008}} Although he was proud to be a communist, he said he would leave the free market economy alone.{{cite news |last=Kambas |first=Michele |date=24 February 2008 |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKL2442130720080224?sp=true |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112024113/http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKL2442130720080224?sp=true |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 January 2009 |title=Communist Christofias wins Cyprus presidential vote |work=Reuters |access-date=17 December 2011}} While much of the focus outside of Cyprus was on his communist background and education in Moscow, voters were more concerned with a solution to the Cyprus problem.{{cite news |last=Birch |first=Nicholas |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/europe/leftist-victory-revives-hopes-for-a-united-cyprus-786852.html |title=Leftist victory revives hopes for a united Cyprus |work=The Independent |date=25 February 2008 |access-date=17 December 2011}}

File:Dmitry Medvedev in Cyprus 7 October 2010-6.jpeg in 2010]]

Christofias appointed his government on 29 February 2008. His first government was a coalition between his own party AKEL, Marios Garoyian's Democratic Party and Yiannakis Omirou's Movement for Social Democracy. Christofias started talks with Mehmet Ali Talat on the reunification of Cyprus as a bizonal federal state,{{Cite news|title=Cyprus country profile |date=27 May 2011|newspaper= BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1016541.stm|url-status =dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728172734/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1016541.stm|archive-date=28 July 2011}} but his hopes for Greek Cypriot approval of such a plan were soon scotched by the nationalists' victory in Northern Cyprus' 2009 parliamentary elections.

File:Επίσκεψη ΥΠΕΞ Δ. Δρούτσα σε Κύπρο - Visit of FM D. Droutsas to Cyprus (5447180703).jpg in 2011]]

On 28 July 2011, Cyprus's cabinet tendered its resignation bowing to political and public pressure after a massive munitions blast at Evangelos Florakis Naval Base on 11 July 2011. Several thousand people upset by the Cypriot government's failure to dispose of the explosives had held a demonstration in the capital Nicosia on 12 July, demanding the resignation of Christofias.{{cite news|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/cyprus-un-would-not-authorize-disposal-of-munitions-that-caused-blast-125427243/170751.html|title=Cypriots Riot After Deadly Munitions Blast|date=12 July 2011|work=Voice of America|publisher=United States Government|access-date=13 July 2011}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/cyprus/8632718/Anger-grows-in-Cyprus-over-criminal-errors-behind-explosion.html|title=Anger grows in Cyprus over 'criminal errors' behind explosion|last=Spencer|first=Richard|date=12 July 2011|work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=12 July 2011|location=London}}{{cite news|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/anger-grows-in-cyprus-over-munitions-blast-125503253/167748.html|title=Anger Grows in Cyprus Over Munitions Blast|last=Morley|first=Nathan|date=13 July 2011|work=Voice of America|publisher=United States Government|access-date=13 July 2011}}

On 3 October 2011, the results of the investigation regarding the Evangelos Florakis Naval Base explosion were released to the public, placing the blame for the incident mainly on President Christofias, holding him “personally and institutionally responsible” for the blast.{{cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cyprus-blast-inquiry-idUSTRE7921L920111003 | work=Reuters | first=Michele | last=Kambas | title=Independent probe blames Cyprus leader for blast | date=3 October 2011}}[http://www.cyprus-mail.com/mari-naval-base-blast/mari-probe-president-blamed-blast/20111004 Mari probe: President is blamed for blast] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004233850/http://www.cyprus-mail.com/mari-naval-base-blast/mari-probe-president-blamed-blast/20111004 |date=4 October 2011 }}. Cyprus Mail (4 October 2011). Retrieved on 2011-12-17. Christofias rejected the results of the investigation and denied any personal responsibility for the tragedy.{{cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/cyprus-blast-president-idUSL5E7L33SS20111003 | work=Reuters | title=Cyprus president denies blame for munitions blast | date=3 October 2011}}

Six days later, the police report, "prepared by head of CID at police HQ", recommended the prosecution of 12 people; the police rejected claims they were trying to protect the Presidential palace officials with their report, instead asserting that the "police perform their duties “impartially and objectively”". The police also report that they "carefully avoided saying who and how many we propose to take to court, because the final word on who will be brought to justice rests with the AG...in no way did we want to stigmatise someone who the AG may later judge there is insufficient evidence to prosecute”.[http://www.cyprus-mail.com/cyprus/outcry-leaked-report-puts-some-blast-responsibility-dead/20111009 Outcry as ‘leaked report’ puts some blast responsibility on the dead] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112094846/http://www.cyprus-mail.com/cyprus/outcry-leaked-report-puts-some-blast-responsibility-dead/20111009 |date=12 November 2011 }}. Cyprus Mail (9 October 2011). Retrieved on 2011-12-17.

During this tenure as president, Christofias vowed to resume negotiations for the reunification of the island, making it one of the top priorities of his administration. Although his efforts did not lead to reunification, progress was made as ambulances and workers were able to cross the border, trade developed, and confidence-building measures were set in place.

He increased the minimum wage and pensions at the beginning of his term, but his social policy was stopped when the Cypriot banking system collapsed as a result of the 2012–2013 Cypriot financial crisis. The European Union then only agreed to grant an aid package in exchange for a policy of economic austerity, which Christofias never signed. He tried to limit the crisis with a €2.5 billion loan from Russia, while opposing the privatization scheme. He also found himself confronted in parliament, where his party held only one third of seats, with the majority of other politicians refusing his proposal to increase taxes on the banks responsible for the crisis.[https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/dec/19/christofias-cyprus-sorry-state President Demetris Christofias has brought Cyprus to this sorry state]. The Guardian (2012-19-12). Retrieved on 2013-18-03.[https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/25/world/europe/conservative-candidate-elected-president-in-cyprus.html?_r=0 Conservative Is Elected President in Cyprus] The New York Times, 24 February 2013.'[https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/16/business/global/showdown-looms-over-cyprus-bailout-deal.html After Negotiations, Cyprus Agrees to a Euro Zone Bailout Package]The New York Times, 15 March 2013.

Christofias announced on 14 May 2012 he would not seek re-election for a second term in the next year, citing a deadlock in talks on the island's reunification.[http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2012-05-14/cyprus-president/54952076/1 Cyprus leader won't run for 2nd term] He left office on 28 February 2013, following the presidential elections, and remains the only Cypriot president not to seek re-election.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/demetris-christofias-embattled-former-president-of-cyprus-dies-at-72/2019/06/21/18d53276-9444-11e9-aadb-74e6b2b46f6a_story.html|title=Demetris Christofias, embattled former president of Cyprus, dies at 72|last=Hadjicostis|first=Menelaos|date=21 June 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post}}

Christofias met Elsie Chiratou while studying in Moscow, and they returned to Cyprus together before marrying in 1972. They had a son named Christos and two daughters named Marianna and Christina.

Christofias described himself as an atheist, which was unprecedented by a Cypriot political leader due to the island's overwhelmingly Greek Orthodox outlook.{{cite web|url=http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=27937&archive=1|title=Church elections: how it works|author=Elias Hazou|publisher=Cyprus Mail|date=September 17, 2006|quote=For instance, Chrysostomos might argue that certain self-declared atheists should not be allowed to vote. It's worth recalling that a couple of years ago, the leader of the communist party AKEL Demetris Christofias said he was an atheist.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080606063107/http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=27937&archive=1 |archive-date=June 6, 2008|access-date=September 10, 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://bdnews24.com/world/2008/02/24/greek-cypriots-elect-new-president|title=Greek Cypriots elect new president|date=February 24, 2008|publisher=Bdnews24.com|quote=Most of the campaign has focused on Christofias's credentials. His detractors have portrayed him as a die-hard communist who spurns his ethnic roots and has an allegedly atheist background|access-date=September 10, 2020}} In addition to his native Greek, he was fluent in English and Russian.

After experiencing acute respiratory problems, Christofias was hospitalised at Nicosia General Hospital on 20 May 2019.[https://cyprus-mail.com/2019/05/31/former-president-christofias-in-critical-condition/ Former President Christofias in ‘critical’ condition (Updated)], cyprus-mail.com, 2019/05/31 He died on 21 June, aged 72. A period of national mourning was later announced, and a state funeral was held.{{cite news|url = https://cyprus-mail.com/2019/06/21/former-president-demetris-christofias-has-died/|title = Former president Demetris Christofias has died|last = Psyllides|first = George|date = 21 June 2019|access-date = 21 June 2019|work = Cyprus Mail}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/demetris-christofias-embattled-former-president-of-cyprus-dies-at-72/2019/06/21/18d53276-9444-11e9-aadb-74e6b2b46f6a_story.html|title=Demetris Christofias, embattled former president of Cyprus, dies at 72|last=Hadjicostis|first=Menelaos|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=21 June 2019|access-date=21 June 2019}}

• {{flag|Austria}}: Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Sash of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (10 May 2007)[https://www.parlament.gv.at/PAKT/VHG/XXIV/AB/AB_10542/imfname_251156.pdf 10542/AB XXIV. GP - Anfragebeantwortung, s. 1819]
• {{flag|Russia}}: Medal of Pushkin (10 December 2007){{Cite web|url=http://kremlin.ru/acts/bank/26641|title=Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 06.12.2007 г. № 1634|last=|first=|date=2020-06-24|website=kremlin.ru|publisher=Президент России|access-date=2023-02-08|language=ru}}
• {{flag|Russia}}: Order of Friendship (30 August 2010){{Cite web|url=http://www.moi.gov.cy/moi/pio/pio.nsf/0/E97B3C84FAE0056CC22577B500548B9E?OpenDocument|title=Ο Πρόεδρος της Δημοκρατίας παρασημοφορήθηκε από τον Πρόεδρο της Ρωσικής Ομοσπονδίας|last=|first=|website=www.moi.gov.cy|publisher=|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304200824/http://www.moi.gov.cy/moi/pio/pio.nsf/0/E97B3C84FAE0056CC22577B500548B9E?OpenDocument|archivedate=2016-03-04|accessdate=2019-06-26}}
• {{flag|Russia}}: Jubilee Medal "70 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" (31 May 2015){{Cite web|url=https://dialogos.com.cy/i-rosia-tima-ton-teos-proedro-d-christofia/|title=Η Ρωσία τιμά τον τέως Πρόεδρο Δ. Χριστόφια|last=Ριρής|first=Ανδρέας|website=Dialogos|date=29 May 2015 |publisher=|language=|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627221738/https://dialogos.com.cy/i-rosia-tima-ton-teos-proedro-d-christofia/|archivedate=2019-06-27|accessdate=2019-06-27}}
• {{flag|Greece}}: Grand Collar of the Order of the Redeemer (2008){{Cite web|url=https://www.sigmalive.com/news/politics/219607/parasima-kai-ti-quotpsyxi-masquot-edose-o-ptd-ston-pavlopoulo|title=Παράσημα και τη "ψυχή μας" έδωσε ο ΠτΔ στον Παυλόπουλο|last=|first=|date=2015-03-30|website=www.sigmalive.com|publisher=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716192913/https://www.sigmalive.com/news/politics/219607/parasima-kai-ti-quotpsyxi-masquot-edose-o-ptd-ston-pavlopoulo|archive-date=2019-07-16|access-date=2019-07-16}}
• Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Mark (9 April 2009){{Cite web|url=http://www.philenews.com/eidiseis/politiki/article/728177/patriarchis-alexandreias-o-christofias-sfragse-tin-istoria-tis-kyproy|title=Πατριάρχης Αλεξανδρείας: Ο Χριστόφιας σφράγισε την ιστορία της Κύπρου|last=|first=|website=Philenews|publisher=|language=|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626001514/http://www.philenews.com/eidiseis/politiki/article/728177/patriarchis-alexandreias-o-christofias-sfragse-tin-istoria-tis-kyproy|archivedate=2019-06-26|accessdate=2019-06-26}}
• {{flag|Cuba}}: Order of José Martí (28 September 2009){{Cite web|url=https://www.arcgis.com/apps/MapTour/index.html?appid=2aef2dacfb15408ebdc99907a619c2ab|title=Story Map Tour |date=2017-11-20|website=www.arcgis.com|publisher=|language=es|access-date=2023-02-08}}
• {{flag|Holy See}}: Grand Collar of the Order of Pope Pius IX (2010){{cite web | url=https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/news/local/president-anastasiades-receives-highest-honorary-distinction-of-the-holy-see/ | title=President Anastasiades receives highest honorary distinction of the Holy See }}
• {{flag|Syria|1980}}: Grand Collar of the Order of the Unity of the Nation (4 November 2010){{Cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gov.cy/mfa/mfa2016.nsf/All/0B2F72525027ECDDC2257FA000459115?OpenDocument|title=Ο Πρόεδρος της Δημοκρατίας συναντήθηκε με τον Πρόεδρο της Αραβικής Δημοκρατίας της Συρίας|last=|first=|website=www.mfa.gov.cy|publisher=|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627154307/http://www.mfa.gov.cy/mfa/mfa2016.nsf/All/0B2F72525027ECDDC2257FA000459115?OpenDocument|archivedate=2019-06-27|accessdate=2019-06-27}}
• {{flag|Ukraine}}: First Class of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise (4 July 2011){{Cite web|url=https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/728/2011#Text|title=Про нагородження орденом князя Ярослава Мудрого|language=uk|date=2011-07-04|access-date=2023-02-08}}
• {{flag|Lebanon}}: Grand Cordon of the National Order of the Cedar (2012){{cite web | url=https://www.reporter.com.cy/politics/article/518106/ | title=Όλες οι τιμητικές διακρίσεις που δόθηκαν στον Δημήτρη Χριστόφια (Pics) }}
• {{flag|Sovereign Military Order of Malta}}: Order pro Merito Melitensi (25 October 2012){{Cite web|url=https://www.orderofmalta.int/2012/10/29/the-president-of-cyprus-in-first-state-visit-to-the-order-of-malta/|title=The President of Cyprus in first State visit to the Order of Malta|last=|first=|website=Order of Malta|publisher=|language=|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627233234/https://www.orderofmalta.int/2012/10/29/the-president-of-cyprus-in-first-state-visit-to-the-order-of-malta/|archivedate=2019-06-27|accessdate=2019-06-27}}
• {{flag|Serbia}}: Grand Cross of the Order of the Republic of Serbia (30 January 2013){{Cite web|url=https://www.b92.net/eng/news/society.php?yyyy=2013&mm=01&dd=30&nav_id=84416|title=Serbian, Cypriot leaders exchange state decorations|last=|first=|date=2013-01-13|website=www.b92.net|access-date=2023-02-08}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080614063849/http://www.parliament.cy/parliamentGR/003_02_biography/christofias.htm |date=14 June 2008 |title=Profile in House of Representatives web site }} {{in lang|el}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Christofias, Dimitris}}

Category:1946 births

Category:2019 deaths

Category:Presidents of Cyprus

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Category:Greek Cypriot politicians

Category:Progressive Party of Working People politicians

Category:Cypriot atheists

Category:Cypriot refugees

Category:Leaders of political parties in Cyprus

Category:Recipients of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise

Category:Presidents of the House of Representatives (Cyprus)

Category:Members of the House of Representatives (Cyprus)

Category:Leaders of the Progressive Party of Working People

Category:21st-century presidents of Cyprus