Ioannis Kasoulides will take over as the new Foreign Minister of Cyprus, replacing Nikos Christodoulides who has resigned his post, the President’s office said on Monday.
In a written statement, President Anastasiades said he was particularly saddened by the resignation of Christodoulides, since he was for many years one of his closest associates. “Unfortunately, the way things have developed, I am left with no choice but to accept his resignation”, the President said.
Christodoulides announced his resignation on Sunday in an internal power struggle within the ruling right-wing Democratic Rally party (ΔΗΣΥ) over their choice of candidate for presidential elections next year.
Kasoulides held the foreign ministry portfolio from March 2013 to February 2018 -under President Anastasiades- when he handed over the post to Christodoulides, who previously held the position of Government Spokesman and Director of the Diplomatic Office of the President of the Republic.
He had also served as Foreign Minister in the Glafcos Clerides administration, from April 1997 to February 2003.
He is expected to be sworn in on Tuesday.
