Nikos Christodoulides | |
|---|---|
| Νίκος Χριστοδουλίδης | |
.jpg) Christodoulides in April 2024 | |
| 8thPresident of Cyprus | |
| Assumed office 28 February 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Nicos Anastasiades |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 1 March 2018 – 11 January 2022 | |
| President | Nicos Anastasiades |
| Preceded by | Ioannis Kasoulidis |
| Succeeded by | Ioannis Kasoulidis |
| Government Spokesman | |
| In office 14 April 2014 – 28 February 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Christos Stylianides |
| Succeeded by | Prodromos Prodromou |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1973-12-06)6 December 1973 (age 51) Geroskipou, Cyprus |
| Political party | Democratic Rally (until 2023) Independent (2023–present) |
| Spouse | Philippa Karsera |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | |
| Occupation |
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| Awards | Order of Makarios III (Grand Master) Order of Merit of the Republic of Cyprus |
| Signature |  |
Nikos Christodoulides (Greek:Νίκος Χριστοδουλίδης; born 6 December 1973) is a Cypriot politician, diplomat, and academic who has served as the 8thPresident of Cyprus since 2023. He previously served as Government Spokesman from 2014 to 2018 andMinister of Foreign Affairs from 2018 to 2022, both under his predecessorNicos Anastasiades. A former member of theDemocratic Rally, he has been anindependent since the party ejected him for enteringthe 2023 presidential race against their chosen candidate.
Christodoulides started his career as a diplomat in 1999, also working as a lecturer and researcher at theUniversity of Cyprus from 2007 to 2010. He then served in thesecond Anastasiades government until resigning in January 2022 in order to run in the presidential election, where he defeatedAndreas Mavroyiannis in the run-off and assumed office on 28 February 2023. He is the first Cypriot leader to be born in Cyprus after it gainedindependence from Britain.
Nikos Christodoulides was born inGeroskipou on 6 December 1973,[1] the son of a mother from Geroskipou and a father fromChoulou. He graduated from the Lyceum A' of Ethnarch Makarios III inPaphos in 1991,[2] and completed his compulsory two-year military service in theCypriot National Guard in 1993. He majored in political science, economics, and Byzantine and Modern Greek studies atQueens College inNew York City, graduating in 1997. He then pursued postgraduate studies in political science atNew York University and diplomatic studies at theUniversity of Malta's Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies.[3] He earned aPhD in political science and public administration from theUniversity of Athens in 2003.[4]
Christodoulides lectured and worked as a non-tenure track research associate at theUniversity of Cyprus' History and Archeology Department, teaching the history of the post-war world.[3]
Christodoulides entereddiplomatic service in 1999. He held various posts, including Director of the Office of theMinister of Foreign Affairs, Spokesman of the Cyprus Presidency to theCouncil of the European Union inBrussels, Deputy Chief of Mission at theEmbassy of Cyprus to Greece, Director of the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Consul-General of theHigh Commission of the Republic of Cyprus to the United Kingdom. Between 2013 and 2018, he served as Director of the Diplomatic Office of thePresident of Cyprus.[4]
Christodoulides was appointed Government Spokesman on 14 April 2014, and stepped down upon the conclusion ofNicos Anastasiades' first term on 28 February 2018.
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On 1 March 2018, after Anastasiades' re-election, Christodoulides was appointed toAnastasiades' cabinet as Minister of Foreign Affairs.[5] On 6 March 2018, he stated thatNicosia would not be swayed by Turkey's incursions into theExclusive Economic Zone of Cyprus. During a meeting on Greek-Cypriot cooperation with Greek prime ministerAlexis Tsipras, he said that thereunification of Cyprus was their primary goal.[6]
In May 2018, Christodoulides officially asked the United Nations to prepare for a speedy resumption of the reunification process. After meeting Greek Foreign MinisterNikos Kotzias on 7 May 2018, he praised United Nations Secretary-GeneralAntónio Guterres for despatching aUN Special Representative to sound out the atmosphere for resuming talks.[7]
In June 2018, Christodoulides visited Israel and met with prime ministerBenjamin Netanyahu and presidentReuven Rivlin. They discussed regional developments and the strengthening of bilateral ties in energy and emergency situations. They also discussed Turkish incursions and strategic cooperation on the plannedEastMed pipeline.[8] In June 2018, Christodoulides welcomed an announcement byExxonMobil executives to speed up their schedule to begin drilling operations in Block 10 of the Exclusive Economic Zone. Operations were planned to begin in the fourth quarter of 2018 but did not begin until 2021.[9]
On 17 July 2018, Christodoulides met EU High RepresentativeFederica Mogherini in Brussels. They discussed the potential role of the EU in resuming stalled peace talks with Turkey. During his visit, he stated that Cyprus does "not have the luxury of a new talks' failure" and that "Turkey has to comply with European standards and international law".[10]
On 15 July 2020, Christodoulides commented on the2020 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes, condemning the "ceasefire violation by Azerbaijan" and calling for "restraint of the parties to de-escalate the tension in the region".[11]
Christodoulides was made aKnight of the Holy Sepulchre in 2018 and was awarded theOrder of the Serbian Flag on 5 April 2021 by presidentAleksandar Vučić.[12]
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After months of speculation on whether he would run for president in the2023 election, Christodoulides expressed his interest at a press conference held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 9 January.[13] The next day, he resigned as Minister and was replaced byIoannis Kasoulides soon after.[14]
In June 2022, Christodoulides formally announced his candidacy as an independent candidate despite being a member of theDemocratic Rally, which fieldedAverof Neofytou as its presidential nominee. On 5 January 2023, following the official filing of his candidacy, he was formally ejected from the party.[15] He gathered support from smaller parties, including theDemocratic Party, theMovement for Social Democracy, and theDemocratic Alignment,[5] while also managing to sway a large portion of his former party's supporters.[16]
Christodoulides won the first round of the election with 32.04% of the vote, and was thereafter backed by incumbent president Anastasiades.[17] After winning the second round with 51.92% of the vote (against the 48.08% of fellow independent candidateAndreas Mavroyiannis, who was backed by theProgressive Party of Working People) Christodoulides was declared the winner and became president-elect.[18]
Christodoulides was inaugurated as president on 28 February 2023. He declared that his primary focus was finding a solution to theCyprus problem.[19] In order to restart the negotiations between the two sides, he requested the appointment of aUN special envoy. His proposal was accepted byAntónio Guterres, who appointed Colombian diplomatMaría Ángela Holguín Cuéllar with the aim of facilitating the diplomatic process. Cuéllar arrived in Cyprus in January 2024, having already met with Colin Stewart (Cyprus' permanent UN representative in New York) and is planning visits to the guarantor power countries Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.[20][21]
At aEuropean Council summit on 26 October 2023[22] and at the 2023Paris Peace Forum, organized by French presidentEmmanuel Macron, Christodoulides presented his initiative to open a maritime corridor between Cyprus andGaza, intending to deliver aid to Gaza during theGaza war. Due to the small distance between Cyprus and the conflict zone, Christodoulides suggested utilizingLarnaca's port for shipping significant amounts of humanitarian relief to Gaza by sea. The aid would be collected, inspected, and stored in Cyprus; after daily checks by a joint committee, including Israel, the aid would be sent to Gaza. The vessels would be accompanied by warships and would arrive at a designated neutral area on the coast of Gaza.[23][24]
Christodoulides visited Egyptian presidentAbdel Fattah el-Sisi andKing Abdullah of Jordan to inform them about his proposed humanitarian corridor, while also discussing it with German ChancellorOlaf Scholz over the phone.[25][26] The initiative received positive recognition from the international community and gained approval from theIsraeli government.[27] The first step was completed on 1 January 2024, when Cyprus and the United Kingdom collaborated to successfully send 87 tonnes of aid to Gaza throughPort Said in Egypt. The aid was then transferred through theRafah border without security checks in Israel.[28]
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On 4 March 2024,Ursula von der Leyen declared the European Commission's support for Cyprus' humanitarian corridor initiative,[29][30] scheduling a visit to Cyprus on 8 March to assess the infrastructure.[31][32] The initiative also gained support by the United States, with presidentJoe Biden announcing on 8 March that theUnited States Armed Forces will establish a temporary port in Gaza to enhance sea-based humanitarian aid delivery. The port will handle large vessels carrying food, medicine, and water, with initial shipments arriving via Cyprus. The United States will collaborate on security and coordinate withUN agencies and humanitarian operations on the ground.[33][34][35] The corridor is backed by aid from theUnited Arab Emirates.[36][32][37][38][39]
On 12 March 2024, the Spanish NGO'ssalvage vessel Open Arms departed from the port ofLarnaca to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.[40] The ship towed a barge loaded with supplies provided by the American charityWorld Central Kitchen and funded by the United Arab Emirates. The aid included 200 tonnes of food staples such as rice, flour, and cans of tuna. The ship reached an undisclosed location off the coast of Gaza, navigating a newly opened shipping route.[41][42][43] The mission faced several technical challenges, including capacity and weather concerns. Construction of a makeshift jetty in Gaza facilitated unloading, overcoming Israel's restrictions on contact with Gaza's population.[44]
On 21 March 2024, technocrats from 36 countries convened at the Zenon Coordination Center in Larnaca to discuss bolstering the plan, coinciding with the imminent departure of a second ship from Larnaca to transport 500 tons of aid to Gaza. Efforts are underway to secure funding for the long-term operation of the Amalthea Plan, with Dutch Prime MinisterMark Rutte announcing a €10 million contribution and the EU pledging €70 million in funding.[45][46]
On 20 December 2023, Labor Minister Yiannis Panayiotou announced aminimum wage increase from €940 to €1,000 per month. Employers initially opposed the raise and then proposed an increase to €970, while unions sought €1,020. The government's decision to increase the minimum wage to €1,000 was met with varying reactions from stakeholders.[47][48]
In June 2024, thecredit rating agenciesFitch andS&P upgraded Cyprus' long-term rating from "BBB" to "BBB+".[49] Thebudget surplus of 3.1% is among the highest in theEU and thenational debt is expected to fall to 65.1% ofGDP by 2025, down from 115% in 2020, reflecting one of the highest debt reduction rates in the EU.[50] The agencies also predict strongannual growth of around 3% for the period from 2024 to 2027, despite challenges posed by theRussian invasion of Ukraine and theGaza war.[51]
In November 2024, the credit rating agencyMoody's Ratings upgraded Cyprus' credit rating by two notches from Baa2 to A3, citing the country's sustained fiscal improvements, significant debt reduction, and stable economic growth.[52][53]
Upon taking office in early 2023, Christodoulides faced a significantmigrant crisis that was further exacerbated by the outbreak of theGaza war later that year. He declared that Cyprus was in "a state of serious crisis" and called forEU intervention to manage the flow ofirregular migrants from nearbyLebanon.[54][55] In June 2024, he established the Deputy Ministry of Immigration withNikolas Ioannides as its first Deputy Minister.[56][57] During Christodoulides' first year in office, Cyprus saw a substantial increase in the deportation of illegal migrants and a 50% decrease in new arrivals, earning praise from European officials.[58][59] According to the Interior Ministry, new arrivals had dropped to 220 by May 2024, down from 21,565 in May 2022; the number of individuals at the Pournara Emergency Reception Centre decreased to 254 by May 2024, down from 3,145 in April 2022.[60]
In October 2023, Christodoulides' government unveiled its ambitious plans fordigital transformation, securing €282 million in EU funding for the realisation of the "Strategic Plan 2024–2026". This comprehensive plan encompasses diverse initiatives, including the integration ofartificial intelligence, the promotion ofultra-high-speed network connectivity, the intensification of digital skills through education, support for research and innovation, encouragement ofstart-up entrepreneurship, and the reinforcement of defense mechanisms againstcyber threats. The Deputy Ministry of Innovation plays a pivotal role in implementing these initiatives, focusing on three key pillars: the digital transformation of Cyprus, the development of a sustainable innovative economy, and the protection of the country's infrastructure. The transformation aims to enhance efficiency in services, automate processes, increase governance transparency, and stimulate innovation, ultimately fostering economic development and job creation.[61] In his role as Christodoulides' Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Philippos Hadjizacharias highlighted the government's goal of turning Cyprus into a leading technology hub.[62]
Cyprus and the United States have initiated a strategic dialogue during Christodoulides' presidency, significantly deepening the two countries' relations in areas such as security, energy, and investment.[63] The dialogue placed Cyprus among a select group of nations engaged in high-level talks with the U.S. twice a year, and advanced Cyprus' goal of joining the U.S.Visa Waiver Program.[64][65]
Christodoulides accepted U.S. PresidentJoe Biden's invitation to visit theWhite House on 30 October 2024, marking the first time a Cypriot president visited the White House sinceGlafcos Clerides was received byBill Clinton in June 1996.[66][67] The two held official discussions on topics including bilateral relations, energy diversification, and regional and international stability.[68][69] Biden also expressed optimism for thereunification of Cyprus on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation.[70]
On January 15, 2024, U.S. PresidentJoe Biden signed a deal integrating Cyprus into three U.S. defense programs:Foreign Military Sales,Excess Defense Articles, andTitle 10 for training and equipping foreign security forces.[71][72]
Christodoulides came under scrutiny by the public and media in both Cyprus and Greece in January 2024 for firing his Minister of Defense, Michalis Giorgallas, reportedly after the Greek government disagreed with Giorgallas' stance on a joint defense doctrine.[73][74][75]
Christodoulides has four children with his wife, Philippa Karsera, a diplomat fromDora. They met in 1999 as newly appointed diplomaticattachés in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She served at theCypriot High Commission to the United Kingdom inLondon and then at the Cypriot Embassy inAthens and thePermanent Representation of Cyprus to the European Union inBrussels. She was then promoted to Deputy Director of the President's Diplomatic Office at Cyprus'Presidential Palace. In February 2022, she began leading the crisis management directorate in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[4][76]
In February 2025, Christoudoulides was sent a list of demands by an anonymoussocial media account which said that he and his family would be in immediate danger if he did not comply.[77] ThePresidential Guard thus increased his protection, whilst the country'spolice forces andintelligence service began a joint investigation into the threat.[78][79]
Christodoulides has contributed to domestic and international academic journals, and is the author of the booksPlans for Solution of the Cyprus Problem 1948–1978 (2009)[80] andRelations between Athens and Nicosia and the Cyprus Problem 1977–1988 (2013).[4][81]
Cyprus: Grand Master and Grand Collar of theOrder of Makarios III (28 February 2023)Cyprus: Grand Master of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Cyprus (28 February 2023)
Germany: Grand Cross Special Class of theOrder of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (12 February 2024)[82]
Greece: Grand Cross of theOrder of the Redeemer (13 March 2023)[84]
Italy: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of theOrder of Merit of the Italian Republic (26 February 2024)[85]
Netherlands: Knight Grand Cross of theOrder of the Netherlands Lion (4 March 2025)
Poland: Grand Cross of theOrder of Merit of the Republic of Poland (4 October 2021)[86][87]
Serbia:Order of the Serbian Flag, First Class (4 May 2021)[88][89]| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Minister of Foreign Affairs 2018–2022 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President of Cyprus 2023–present | Incumbent |
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Current members of theCabinet of Cyprus | |||
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