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== Anledning til lokal ledelse ==
Dimitris Christofias blev valgt til medlem af Repræsentanternes Hus for første gang i 1991 og blev genvalgt i de efterfølgende [[Valg i Cypern | parlamentsvalg]] fra 1996 - 2001. Den [[7 juni]] [[2001]] blev han valgt til formand for [[Repræsentanternes Hus i Cypern | Repræsentanternes Hus]]. Han blev genvalgt som formand for Repræsentanternes Hus i 2006. I hans funktion af generalsekretær for C.C. AKEL og formand for Repræsentanternes Hus, blev han medlem af Det Nationale Råd.
== Public figure ==
In 1974 he was elected to the post of the Central Organising Secretary of EDON and in 1977 of General Secretary. At this post he served till 1987.
Han var''ex officio''formanden for Parlamentet stående udvalg om udvælgelse og formand for #ad hoc-Parlamentet" stående udvalg for forretningsordenen og for den særlige Hus Stående Komité for erklæringen og Undersøgelse af ejendom.
In 1976 he was elected member of the [[Nicosia District|Nicosia]]-[[Kyrenia District]] Committee of AKEL, and in 1982 – at the 15th Congress of AKEL – he was elected member of the Central Committee of the Party.
Han var også formand for det udøvende udvalg af Cypern-Gruppen til Interparlamentariske Union (IPU) og på Cypern Branch of the [[Commonwealth Parlamentariske Selskabs]] (CPA).
In July 1986 he was elected alternate member of the Political Bureau of the C.C. of AKEL. After the 16th Congress of AKEL, held in November 1986, he was elected full member of the P.B. of C.C. AKEL and in 1987 (after terminating his service as General Secretary of EDON) he was elected member of the Secretariat of C.C. AKEL. In April 1988, following the death of [[Ezekias Papaioannou]], he was elected General Secretary of the C.C. AKEL, a post he still holds.
== Rise to local leadership ==
Dimitris Christofias was elected Member of the House of Representatives for the first time in 1991 and was re-elected in the subsequent [[Elections in Cyprus|parliamentary elections]] of 1996 and 2001. On [[7 June]] [[2001]] he was elected President of the [[House of Representatives of Cyprus|House of Representatives]]. He was re-elected as president of the House of Representatives in 2006. In his function of General Secretary of the C.C. AKEL and President of the House of Representatives, he was a Member of the National Council, a supreme advisory body to the President of the Republic.
== Valget I 2008 ==
He was ''ex officio'' chairman of the House Standing Committee on Selection and chairman of the Ad Hoc House Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and of the Special House Standing Committee on Declaration and Examination of Property.
TheDen firstførste roundrunde of theaf [[ Cypriotcypriotiske presidential electionpræsidentvalg, 2008 | February februar 2008 presidential electionpræsidentvalget]], heldder onblev afholdt den [[17 Februaryfeb]], sawså aet closetæt resultresultat betweenmellem thede threetre leadingførende candidates—Christofiaskandidater-Christofias, [[Ioannis Kasoulides]] of [[ DISY]], andog theden incumbentetablerede [[Tassos Papadopoulos]] —Christofias-Christofias narrowlysnævert placinganbringelse secondanden withmed 33 .,3% ofaf the votestemmerne, behindbag Kasoulidis withmed 33 .,5%. Christofias andog Kasoulidis participateddeltog ini aen secondanden roundrunde onpå [[ Februaryfeb 24]] <ref> [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/17/news/Cyprus-Election.php " Incumbentetablerede eliminatedfjernes fromfra CyprusCypern presidentialpræsidentvalget electioni instore majoroverraskelse surprise"], Associated Press (''International Herald Tribune''), [[17 Februaryfeb]] [[2008 ]].</ ref> for whichhvilke Christofias receivedmodtaget thestøtte backing offra Papadopoulos's partyparti, [[DIKO ]]. <ref> [http://www.news.com.au/story/0 ,23599,23250278-1702, 00.html " Communistkommunistiske chiefoverstyrmand gainsgevinster edgekant ini CyprusCypern pollmeningsmåling"], AFP (news.com.au ), [[21 Februaryfeb]] [[2008 ]].</ ref> Christofias wentgik onpå toat winvinde thevalget election withmed 53 .,37% of theaf votestemmerne. < refREF nameName=Results> {{ ((cite newsnyheder | publisher udgiver = Cypriot governmentcypriotiske regering | url = http://www.ekloges.gov.cy/index.aspx?ci=en-GB|title=Presidential ElectionValg 2008: Run-off ElectionValg: OfficialOfficielle resultater results| date Dato = 2008-02-24 | accessdate = 2008-02 - - 24 }})) </ ref REF> After hisEfter successsin hesucces pledgedhan tolovede restartat talksgenoptage toforhandlingerne findfor aat solutionfinde toen løsning for reunifygenforening theaf islandøen. InI addressingbehandlingen aaf jubilanten crowdjublende wavingmenneskemængde Cypriotvinke andcypriotiske og [[Che Guevara]] flagsflag ini theCypern Cyprus capitalhovedstad Nicosia's streetsgader theden newnye president-electnyvalgte saidformand hesagde, lookedat forwardhan toså "substantialfrem cooperationtil for"væsentlige thesamarbejde benefittil ofgavn bothfor communitiesbegge samfund." < refREF name=cnnfeb24> {{ ((cite newsnyheder | publisher udgiver = CNN | url = http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/02/24/cyprus.election.ap/index.html|title=Christofias winsvundne CyprusCypern formandskabet presidency| date = 2008-02-24 | accessdate = 2008-02-25 }})) </ ref REF> " TomorrowI morgen, aen newny daydag beginsbegynder. WeVi willvil seese manymange difficultiesproblemer aheadforan of usos. AsFra og med ofi tomorrowmorgen, wevi uniteforener ourvores forces…tokræfter achieve… theAt reunificationopnå ofen genforening af ourvores countryland, "<ref> http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-02-24-cyprus-elections_N.htm USA Today " Christofias winsvinder CyprusCypern presidentialpræsidentvalget election" den 25 Februaryfebruar 2008 </ ref> ▼
Christofias wasblev sworntaget ini ased Presidentsom atpræsident aved ceremonyen inceremoni thei HouseRepræsentanternes ofHus Representatives onom [[ Februaryfeb 28]] , [[2008]], vowing thatat " theløsning solutionpå ofCypern-problemet thevil Cyprusvære problemden willhøjeste beprioritet thefor topmin priority of my governmentregering". <ref> [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/28/content_7689565.htm "New CyprusCypern presidentpræsident takestager officekontor withmed pledgeløfte fortil solutionopløsning"], Xinhua (''People's Daily Online''), Februaryden 28 februar, 2008 . </ ref REF> AlthoughSelvom proudstolt toaf beat avære communistkommunist, hehan sayssiger, hehan willvil leavelade theden freefrie marketmarkedsøkonomi economy alonealene. <ref> [http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKL2442130720080224?sp=true Reuters " Communistkommunistiske Christofias WinsVinder CyprusCypern PresidentialPræsidentens stemme Vote" Februaryfebruar 24 2008] </ ref> WhileMens muchen ofstor thedel focusaf beyondfokus Cyprusud hasover beenCypern onhar Mrværet på hr. Christofias's communistkommunistiske backgroundbaggrund andog educationuddannelse ini MoscowMoskva, onpå theøen islandvælgere voterser haveblevet beenmere moreinteresseret concernedi withen aløsning solutionpå toEuropas Europe'slængste longestkører runningkonflikt conflict<ref > [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/europe/leftist-victory-revives-hopes-for-a-united-cyprus-786852.html The Independent " Leftistvenstreorienteret victorysejr revivesgenoptager hopeshåb forom aet unitedforenet CyprusCypern" Mondayman 25 Februaryfebruar 2008] </ ref REF>, the island'søens partitiondeling sincesiden 1974. ▼He was also president of the executive committees of the Cyprus Group to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (I.P.U.) and of the Cyprus Branch of the [[Commonwealth Parliamentary Association]] (C.P.A.).
Dimitris Christofias is married to Elsie (Chiratou) Christofias (1972) and they have three children – two daughters, Marianna and Christina, and a son, Christos. He is a recipient of a living-related [[kidney transplant]], donated by his sister.<ref>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=FACTBOX - Five facts about Cyprus leftist Christofias | date=Sunday, February 24, 2008 | publisher=Reuters | url =http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20080224/tts-uk-cyprus-election-christofias-ca02f96.html | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2008-02-24 | language = }}</ref>
== 2008 election ==
▲The first round of the [[Cypriot presidential election, 2008|February 2008 presidential election]], held on [[17 February]], saw a close result between the three leading candidates—Christofias, [[Ioannis Kasoulides]] of [[DISY]], and the incumbent [[Tassos Papadopoulos]]—Christofias narrowly placing second with 33.3% of the vote, behind Kasoulidis with 33.5%. Christofias and Kasoulidis participated in a second round on [[February 24]]<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/17/news/Cyprus-Election.php "Incumbent eliminated from Cyprus presidential election in major surprise"], Associated Press (''International Herald Tribune''), [[17 February]] [[2008]].</ref> for which Christofias received the backing of Papadopoulos's party, [[DIKO]].<ref>[http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23250278-1702,00.html "Communist chief gains edge in Cyprus poll"], AFP (news.com.au), [[21 February]] [[2008]].</ref> Christofias went on to win the election with 53.37% of the vote.<ref name=Results>{{cite news|publisher=Cypriot government|url=http://www.ekloges.gov.cy/index.aspx?ci=en-GB|title=Presidential Election 2008: Run-off Election: Official results|date=2008-02-24|accessdate=2008-02-24}}</ref>After his success he pledged to restart talks to find a solution to reunify the island. In addressing a jubilant crowd waving Cypriot and [[Che Guevara]] flags in the Cyprus capital Nicosia's streets the new president-elect said he looked forward to "substantial cooperation for the benefit of both communities." <ref name=cnnfeb24>{{cite news|publisher=CNN|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/02/24/cyprus.election.ap/index.html|title=Christofias wins Cyprus presidency|date=2008-02-24|accessdate=2008-02-25}}</ref> "Tomorrow, a new day begins. We will see many difficulties ahead of us. As of tomorrow, we unite our forces…to achieve the reunification of our country,"<ref>http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-02-24-cyprus-elections_N.htm USA Today "Christofias wins Cyprus presidential election" 25 February 2008</ref>
▲Christofias was sworn in as President at a ceremony in the House of Representatives on [[February 28]], [[2008]], vowing that "the solution of the Cyprus problem will be the top priority of my government".<ref>[http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/28/content_7689565.htm "New Cyprus president takes office with pledge for solution"], Xinhua (''People's Daily Online''), February 28, 2008.</ref> Although proud to be a communist, he says he will leave the free market economy alone.<ref>[http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKL2442130720080224?sp=true Reuters "Communist Christofias Wins Cyprus Presidential Vote" February 24 2008]</ref> While much of the focus beyond Cyprus has been on Mr Christofias's communist background and education in Moscow, on the island voters have been more concerned with a solution to Europe's longest running conflict<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/europe/leftist-victory-revives-hopes-for-a-united-cyprus-786852.html The Independent "Leftist victory revives hopes for a united Cyprus" Monday 25 February 2008]</ref>, the island's partition since 1974.
== Symbolism of his election ==
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