“I am considering the possibility of running for President of the Republic in 2028.”
With this statement and explanation of his reasoning regarding the possibility of running in the 2028 presidential election, John Christodoulou responds to the rumors and media reports.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
In a written statement titled “Out of Love for Cyprus,” Mr. Christodoulou sets out his position.
“In light of recent articles that have been published and the many phone calls I received today from journalists, I would like to note that in recent months, many people have asked me if I will run for President of the Republic in 2028. All of them deserve an honest answer, so here it is. I love my country and I love its people. Precisely because of this love, it is very difficult for me to watch what is happening to them.”
“Fifty-two years after the invasion, the Cyprus problem remains unresolved. Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots are still unable to return to the homes they were forced to abandon,” he continues. “At the same time, the old policy of ‘they do this, and we do that’ continues as if nothing were at stake,” he adds.
“What pains me even more is what our compatriots face every day. The cost of living keeps rising, while wages are falling further and further behind—a trend I’ve observed over the past 10 years through my charitable foundation. There are families who cannot afford to fill their refrigerators; there are some people—even if only a few—who sleep on the streets, and people who are afraid to leave their homes because of violence in certain neighborhoods—even in my own neighborhood in Kaimakli. When I hear the phrase “This is Cyprus,” I want it to mean, in everyone’s mind, a country where no one goes hungry, no one lives on the streets, and no one is afraid to walk home at night. This is the Cyprus I believe in, and this is the Cyprus we deserve.”
He also states that recently, quite a few people have asked him to consider running for office himself.
“In recent months, many people—and not just from one political party—have asked me to consider running in the 2028 presidential election. I want to be clear: I am not a politician. I never wanted to be one, and I never planned to have a career in politics.”
“However, I cannot accept the situation my homeland finds itself in,” adds Mr. Christodoulou.
“We cannot continue to make political decisions based solely on the goal of winning more votes in the next election. We must put our homeland first.”
“That is why, out of love—and only out of love—for my homeland, I am considering running for President of the Republic in 2028,” he says, noting that he has not yet made his final decision.
“I haven’t made my final decision yet, and it’s not a decision I’ll make lightly. I am also thinking very carefully about what this decision would mean for my family and for my lifestyle at this stage.”
And he shares his thoughts.
“The way I’m living now, I feel lucky to be on the best path anyone could ask for, and I often wonder if I want to choose a different, significant path. I know I can make a big difference for Cyprus, especially when it comes to security, the economy, and social welfare. Therefore, at this stage, I will reflect on the matter carefully, listen to the people whose judgment I trust, and announce my final decision early next year.”
“Whatever I decide, Cyprus certainly deserves much better than what it has today, and I will not stop saying so and doing everything I can to move in that direction,” he concludes.
