Nikos Christodoulides

Nikos Christodoulides (Greek: Νίκος Χριστοδουλίδης; born 6 December 1973)[1] is a Cypriot politician, former diplomat and academic, who serves as President of Cyprus since February 2023. He was previously Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2018 to 2022, and Spokesman of the Government from 2014 to 2018.

"Christodoulides" redirects here. For the Cypriot judoka, see Christodoulos Christodoulides.
Nikos Christodoulides
Νίκος Χριστοδουλίδης
Christodoulidis in 2019
8th President of Cyprus
Assumed office
28 February 2023
Preceded byNicos Anastasiades
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
1 March 2018 – 11 January 2022
PresidentNicos Anastasiades
Preceded byIoannis Kasoulidis
Succeeded byIoannis Kasoulidis
Spokesman of the Government
In office
14 April 2014 – 28 February 2018
Preceded byChristos Stylianides
Succeeded byProdromos Prodromou
Personal details
Born (1973-12-06) 6 December 1973
Geroskipou, Cyprus
Political partyIndependent
Other political
affiliations		Democratic Rally (until 2023)
SpousePhilippa Karsera
Alma mater
OccupationPolitician, diplomat
ProfessionHistorian, political scientist
Awards Order of Makarios III (Grand Master)
Order of Merit of the Republic of Cyprus
Signature

As an academic, he received a PhD in political science from the University of Athens in 2003, and later became both a lecturer and researcher at the University of Cyprus until the early 2010s. Serving in the second-term government of President Nicos Anastasiades, a fellow Democratic Rally (DISY) member, he resigned in January 2022 to launch his own presidential campaign. Whilst DISY nominated its leader Averof Neofytou, Christodoulides ran as an independent, gaining the support of smaller parties, including DIKO, EDEK and DIPA, among others.[2] He won the 2023 presidential election after receiving 32.04% of the votes in the first round, and defeating leftist-backed Andreas Mavroyiannis with 51.92% in the run-off.[3] Taking office on 28 February 2023, he became the island's first leader to be born in an independent Cyprus.

Early life and education

Christodoulides was born in 1973 in Geroskipou, Paphos district, to a Greek Cypriot family. His father hailed from the village of Choulou in the more mountainous region of the district, whilst his mother's family are Geroskipou natives.

Educated at the Archbishop Makarios III Lyceum in Paphos, he left in 1991[4] to study at Queens College, City University of New York. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics and Byzantine & Modern Greek studies, before pursuing further studies in political science at New York University (MA) and in diplomatic studies at the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies (MEDAC), University of Malta (MA).

Christodoulides earned a PhD in political science and public administration from the University of Athens in 2003.[5]

Career before presidency

Academic

Christodoulides lectured and served as a research associate in the Department of History and Archeology at the University of Cyprus; a Special Scholar, he taught on the "History of the Postwar World".[4]

Diplomat

Christodoulides briefly entered diplomatic service in 1999, but did not join government until 2013. He held various posts including Director of the Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, Spokesman of the Cyprus Presidency to the Council of the European Union in Brussels, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Cyprus to Greece, Director of the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Consul-General of the High Commission of the Republic of Cyprus to the United Kingdom. Between 2013 and 2018, he served as Director of the Diplomatic Office of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, and as Government Spokesman between 2014 and 2018.[5] Between 2013 and 2018, he served as Director of the Diplomatic Office of the President of the Republic of Cyprus.[5]

Spokesman of Government

Christodoulidis was appointed Government Spokesman on 14 April 2014. He stepped down upon the conclusion of President Nicos Anastasiades's first term on 28 February 2018.

Minister of Foreign Affairs
Christodoulidis meets President Reuven Rivlin on 22 March 2018
Christodoulidis and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in November 2018

On 1 March 2018, Christodoulidis was appointed to the Cabinet as Minister of Foreign Affairs, after the re-election of President Nicos Anastasiades.[2]

On 6 March 2018, Christodoulidis stated that Nicosia would not be swayed by Turkey's incursions into the Exclusive Economic Zone of Cyprus. During a meeting on Greek-Cypriot cooperation with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, he said that the "number one goal is the reunification of the country."[6]

In May 2018, Christodoulidis officially asked the United Nations to prepare for a speedy resumption of the reunification process. After meeting Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias on 7 May 2018, he praised Secretary-General António Guterres for despatching a UN Special Representative to sound out the atmosphere for resuming talks.[7]

In June 2018, Christodoulidis visited Israel and met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Reuven 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 planned EastMed pipeline.[8]

In June 2018, Christodoulidis welcomed an announcement by ExxonMobil executives to speed up their schedule to begin drilling operations in Block 10 of the Exclusive Economic Zone. Operations, planned to begin in the fourth quarter of 2018,[9] commenced in 2021.

On 17 July 2018, Christodoulidis met EU High Representative Federica Mogherini in Brussels. They discussed the potential role of the EU in resuming stalled peace talks with Turkey. During his visit, Christodoulidis 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, he commented on the 2020 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]

A Knight of the Holy Sepulchre since 2018, Christodoulidis was awarded the Order of the Serbian Flag on 5 April 2021 by President Aleksandar Vučić.[12]

Presidency

After months of speculation on whether he would run in the 2023 Cypriot presidential election, Christodoulidis 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 by veteran politician Ioannis Kasoulides on 11 January 2022.[14]

In June 2022, he formally announced his candidacy as an independent candidate, despite being a member of the DISY. He was endorsed by DIKO and EDEK, respectively the island's third and fourth-largest parties. On 5 January 2023, following the filing of his candidacy, he was formally ejected from DISY by the party's governing body.[15] A July 2022 opinion poll said he appeared to maintain a comfortable lead over the other candidates.[16]

He won the first round of the presidential election with 32.04% of votes, 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 Andreas Mavroyiannis who was supported by the Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL), Christodoulidis was declared pesident-elect.[3]

Christodoulides was inaugurated as president on 28 February 2023, succeeding Nicos Anastasiades. Christodoulides declared that his prime focus was finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.[18]

Personal life

Christodoulidis is married to Philippa Karsera, a Greek Cypriot diplomat from Dora. They met in 1999, when newly appointed diplomatic attachés in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She served at the Cypriot High Commission in London, then at the Embassy in Athens and the Permanent Representation of Cyprus to the European Union in Brussels, before being promoted Deputy Director of the President's Diplomatic Office at the Presidential Palace, Nicosia. Styled Minister Plenipotentiary, from February 2022, she led the crisis management directorate in the Cyprus Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[5][19]

The couple have four children together.

Publications

Christodoulidis has contributed to many domestic and international academic journals, and is the author of two books: Plans for Solution of the Cyprus Problem 1948–1978 published in 2009,[20] and Relations between Athens and Nicosia and the Cyprus Problem 1977–1988 published in 2013.[21][5]

Honours and awards

References
  1. "Christodoulides Nikos – Thessaloniki Summit".
  2. "New cabinet announced". Cyprus Mail. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  3. Kambas, Michele (12 February 2023). "Former Cyprus foreign minister wins presidential election". Reuters. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  4. "Director, Diplomatic Office of the President of the Republic of Cyprus". concordia.net. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  5. "Minister, Curriculum Vitae". Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Cyprus. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  6. "Provocations in EEZ dominate Christodoulides' contacts in Athens". Cyprus Mail. 6 March 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  7. "Zypern bittet UN um sofortige Hilfe bei Wiedervereinigungsbemühungen" [Cyprus asks UN for immediate help in re-union endeavor] (in German). Handelsblatt. 7 May 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  8. "Netanyahu and Christodoulides discuss regional developments". Cyprus Mail. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  9. "Christodoulides welcomes Exxon's intention to speed up drilling plans". Cyprus Mail. 10 June 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  10. "Christodoulides and Mogherini discuss EU role in efforts to resume Cyprus talks". Cyprus Mail. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  11. Christodoulides, Nikos (15 July 2020). "Statement of the Cyprus Ministry of Foreign Affairs". www.pio.gov.cy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020.
  12. "Vučić uručio orden šefu kiparske diplomatije Hristodulidisu". rts.rs (in Serbian). RTS. 5 April 2021.
  13. "Κύπρος – Παραιτήθηκε ο Νίκος Χριστοδουλίδης από υπουργός Εξωτερικών". 9 January 2022.
  14. "Minister – MFA".
  15. "Christodoulides struck from DISY party register". cyprus-mail.com. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  16. Mavroudis, Christodoulos (6 July 2022). "New poll shows Christodoulides ahead in presidential race". Cyprus Mail. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  17. "Ex-minister Christoulides wins Cyprus presidential election". AP News. 12 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  18. "'Cyprus problem' top priority for island's new president". Reuters. Nicosia. 28 February 2023. Archived from the original on 28 February 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  19. "Philippa Karsera: The career diplomat, she now holds the title of Minister Plenipotentiary, who will also be Cyprus' new First Lady from March 1 2023. (PHOTO)". in-cyprus.philenews.com. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  20. Christodoulides, Nikos (2009). Τα σχέδια λύσης του κυπριακού, 1948–1978 [Plans for Solution of the Cyprus Problem 1948–1978] (in Greek). Athens: Ekdoseis Kastaniōtē. ISBN 9789600349948.
  21. Christodoulides, Nikos (2013). Οι σχέσεις Αθηνών-Λευκωσίας και το Κυπριακό, 1977-1988 [Relations Between Athens and Nicosia and the Cyprus Problem, 1977–1988] (in Greek). Athens: I. Siderēs. ISBN 9789600806007.
  22. "Visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the State of Israel".
  23. https://cypr24.eu/cypr-ma-nowego-prezydenta/
  24. https://www.politika.rs/scc/clanak/476396/Politika/Vucic-urucio-orden-sefu-kiparske-diplomatije-Hristodulidisu
  25. "Παρασημοφόρησε τον ΠτΔ η Σακελαροπούλου (εικόνες & βίντεο)". www.philenews.com. 13 March 2023.
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