Marios Karoyian new DIKO leader

Marios Karoyian was elected here Sunday new leader of the centre-right Democratic Party (DIKO), succeeding Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos who resigned from the post in August this year.

Karoyian secured 4,759 votes or 62.6% against 2,840 votes or 37.4% garnered by Nicos Cleanthous, who had been DIKO Acting President.

The new DIKO leader was born in Nicosia on 31 May 1961. He graduated from Terra Santa College and studied Political Sciences at the University of Peruja in Italy.

In 1981 he was elected the first president of the students association “Anagenisi” of Italy and two years later the first President of the Cypriot Students Union of Peruja. For many years he was member of the Pancyprian Federation of Students Unions (POFNE).

From 1986 until 1992 he served as President of the youth section of the Democratic Party (NEDIK) and then elected secretary for trade union issues.

Karoyian served as Director of the office of the President of the House of Representatives from May 1991 until June 2001, participating in bilateral and international parliamentary activities in House official delegations. He also participated in the technocratic preparatory group of the House which worked on promoting legislative work.

He was a member of the DIKO Central Committee from 1988 and in 2005 elected member of the Executive Bureau for the third time.

In 2003 Karoyian was appointed Director of the President’s Press Office (under Tassos Papadopoulos) and also served as Acting Government Spokesman. He resigned from his post earlier this year, announcing his intention to run for Parliament. He was elected Member of Parliament for DIKO in May this year.

Karoyian has written a number of articles and analysis on the Cyprus problem and the EU both for the local and international press.

He speaks English, Italian and Spanish.

He is married with two children.