Who is Cyprus’s president-elect Nikos Christodoulides?

Christodoulides ran as an impartial candidate and had the backing of centrists and centre-right events.

Cyprus's new president
That is the primary time that a candidate has gained the presidency with out having the backing of two of essentially the most distinguished political teams, the conservative DISY and the communist AKEL [Yiannis Kourtoglou/Reuters]

Cyprus’s former International Minister Nikos Christodoulides has been elected president of the nation, turning into its youngest chief at 49.

Christodoulides gained 51.9 % of the vote within the run-off that came about on Sunday, edging out the communist-backed candidate, Andreas Mavroyiannias, who acquired 48.8 %.

He'll take up his new position on March 1.

Christodoulides ran as an impartial candidate and had the backing of centrists and centre-right events that normally had hardline stances on fixing decades-old divisions within the island nation.

That is the primary time ever that a candidate has gained the presidency with out having the backing of two of essentially the most distinguished political teams, the conservative DISY and the communist AKEL.

In his profitable speech, Christodoulides stated: “I look you within the eyes and offer you a promise – I'll do every thing to be worthy of your belief.”

Who's Christodoulides ?

Christodoulides has often been within the public eye for his persona of a younger, energetic politician providing new concepts previously decade.

He launched his diplomatic profession in 1999, climbing up the ranks till he turned international minister for the right-wing President Nicos Anastasiades in 2018. He give up that place in June to hitch the presidential race.

Christodoulides, who was already reportedly favoured by Anastasiades, wanted votes from the DISY however triggered fissures inside the occasion after its chief, Averof Neofytou, was knocked out within the first spherical of polls final week.

Whereas the DISY would normally inform members to again the candidate operating in opposition to the communist occasion, Christdoulides was hated by many within the occasion and seen as a “traitor” who put ambition over the wants of the occasion and nation.

However this left the presidential race open for Christodoulides to win essentially the most votes.

A flag of Cyprus' new president
Supporters of Cyprus’s president-elect Nikos Christodoulides awaiting his speech [Iakovos Hatzistavrou/AFP]

What’s his political background?

Christodoulides studied in Malta and New York earlier than getting a doctorate in political science from the College of Athens.

He has promised to take a “zero-tolerance” strategy to corruption following a cash-for-passports scandal that marred the earlier administration, which he was a part of.

Because the international minister, he didn't take a transparent stance on Russian sanctions because of the invasion of Ukraine, which led to many criticising his “pro-Moscow” stance.

What’s his stance on peace talks?

Because the 1974 Turkish invasion, Cyprus has been break up by ethnicity, with Greek and Turkish Cypriots residing on both aspect of a United Nations-patrolled ceasefire border.

Christodoulides has beforehand thought of that the primary issues dealing with Cypriots had been “the price of residing and housing, immigration and the Cyprus drawback”, referring to these divisions within the nation.

The final spherical of peace talks collapsed in mid-2017.

Christodoulides says he needs to renew talks however that a UN framework governing discussions must be renegotiated. He has, nevertheless, lengthy taken a hawkish stance on peace talks.

He has stated he's open to forming alliances with excessive proper events like ELAM, the ultranationalists who completed fourth within the election.

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