Nikos Christodoulides won the second round of Cyprus’ presidential election on 5 February with 51.92% of the vote over Andreas Mavroyiannis, who received 48.08% of the vote. He is set to take office as the country’s eighth and youngest President on 1 March.
He ran as an independent candidate with the support of centrist parties such as ALDE Party member Dimokratiki Parataxi (DEPA).
Christodoulides is an academic and career diplomat that worked as government spokesperson and Minister of Foreign Affairs under outgoing President Nicos Anastasiades. During the campaign, he positioned himself as the candidate who can bridge ideologies and party affiliations to unite the electorate and has pledged to form a government of national unity.
His goals include ensuring quality and relevant educational opportunities for young people to enter the job market and support vulnerable groups. Christodoulides also aims to grow the digital and green economy, implement tax and pension reforms, increase the use of renewable energy sources and electrical.
DEPA leader Marios Garoyian congratulated Christodoulides following his win, declaring:
“The people bestowed upon Nikos Christodoulides a powerful mandate to lead the Republic of Cyprus and fulfill everyone’s expectations for renewal, for modernization of its institutions and for safeguarding the Republic, while meeting expectations and demands.”
Photo credit: Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken, 2019