Demetris Christofias

Christofias, Demetris (dĕmēˈtrēs krĭstôfˈēäs) [key], 1946–, Cypriot political leader, president of Cyprus (2008–). Christofias studied history in Moscow, earning his doctorate in 1974. A member of the AKEL (Communist) party, he has served as chairman of its youth organization (1977–87) and as secretary-general of the party (1988–). He was a member of the House of Representatives (1991–2007) and was president of that body from 2001 to 2007. Elected president of Cyprus in 2008 after a runoff, he has revived unification talks with Turkish Cypriots.