EPP MEP Kasoulides to run for Cyprus president

Cypriot Member of the European Parliament for the European Popular Party, Ioannis Kasoulides, declared his candidacy for the presidential elections in February 2008.

Kasoulides, 59, who is running for president for the first time, served as government spokesman and later Foreign Minister during Glafcos Clerides’ two terms in office from 1993 to 2003.

Backed by the opposition Democratic Rally party, Kasoulides was elected member of the European Parliament during the Euro-elections of June 2004, the first such elections since Cyprus joined the EU in May 2004.
Kasoulides is only the second candidate to officially come forward after former Minister of Agriculture Costas Themistocleous declared his candidacy in May. Communist party leader and House president Demetris Christofias is waiting for a party decision to support his candidacy that may cause a rift within the ruling three-party coalition that has backed incumbent President Tassos Papadopoulos.
As Foreign Minister, Kasoulides led the diplomatic service during negotiations for Cyprus‘ accession to the European Union and was instrumental in securing the release of Palestinian fighters holed up in Bethlehem to avert a further conflict with Israel. As MEP for the EPP Kasoulides also sits on committees on regional affairs and has headed delegations to north west Africa.
He was elected deputy to the Cyprus House of Representatives in 1991 after heading the opposition party’s youth division, NEDISY, for many years.
Kasoulides studied medicine at Lyon University in France and specialised in geriatrics in London. He is married with one daughter.