Highly successful entrepreneur and philanthropist John Christodoulou has confirmed that he is considering running for the position of President of the Republic of Cyprus in the 2028 elections, but was also careful to underline that he has not made a final decision as yet.
In a statement, Christodoulou acknowledged recent media reports about the issue and also revealed, "Over the past few months, many people, including representatives of more than one political party, have asked me to consider standing in the 2028 presidential election."
He put emphasis on his love of Cyprus and expressed concern for the problems faced by its people, including the Cyprus Problem, the rising cost of living and crime, among others, noting, "When people hear the words “This is Cyprus”, I want them to bring to mind a country where nobody goes hungry, nobody is left homeless, and nobody is afraid to walk home at night. That is the Cyprus I believe in. And that is the Cyprus we deserve."
Christodoulou went on to say, "I want to be clear: I am not a politician. I have never wanted to become one, nor have I ever planned a life in politics. Yet I cannot accept the state my country is in. We cannot continue making political decisions based solely on winning more votes at the next election."
"That is why, out of love, and only out of love for my country, I am considering standing for President of the Republic in 2028. I have not yet made my final decision, and it is not one I will take lightly. I am also giving careful thought to what such a decision would mean for my family and for my life at this stage," he continued.
Christodoulou said he would take time to reflect and announce his final decision next year, concluding, "Whatever I decide, one thing is certain: Cyprus deserves much better than what it has today. And I will never stop saying so, or doing everything I can to help make that better future a reality."
His full statement can be seen below:
Out of Love for Cyprus
In light of recent media reports and the many calls I received from journalists today, I would like to address a question that many people have been asking me over the past few months: Will I stand as a candidate for President of the Republic in 2028?
I believe they all deserve an honest answer. So here it is.
I love my country, and I love its people. It is precisely because of this love that I find it so difficult to see what they are going through.
Fifty-two years after the Turkish invasion, the Cyprus problem remains unresolved. Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots are still unable to return to the homes they were forced to leave behind. Meanwhile, the old mentality of “them over there, and us over here” continues, as though nothing were at stake.
What pains me even more is what our fellow citizens face every day.
The cost of living keeps rising, while wages fall further and further behind. This is something I have witnessed first-hand over the past ten years through the work of my charitable foundation.
There are families who cannot afford to fill their fridges. There are people, even if only a few, who sleep on the streets. And there are people who are afraid to leave their homes because of violence in certain neighbourhoods, even in my own area at Kaimakli.
When people hear the words “This is Cyprus”, I want them to bring to mind a country where nobody goes hungry, nobody is left homeless, and nobody is afraid to walk home at night.
That is the Cyprus I believe in. And that is the Cyprus we deserve.
Over the past few months, many people, including representatives of more than one political party, have asked me to consider standing in the 2028 presidential election.
I want to be clear: I am not a politician. I have never wanted to become one, nor have I ever planned a life in politics.
Yet I cannot accept the state my country is in. We cannot continue making political decisions based solely on winning more votes at the next election.
We must put our country first.
That is why, out of love, and only out of love for my country, I am considering standing for President of the Republic in 2028. I have not yet made my final decision, and it is not one I will take lightly. I am also giving careful thought to what such a decision would mean for my family and for my life at this stage.
I feel fortunate to have a life that has given me more than I could ever have hoped for. And I often ask myself whether I truly want to take a different, important path, one that would bring such a significant change.
But I know that I can make a real difference for Cyprus, particularly in security, the economy and social welfare.
For now, I will take the time to reflect carefully, listen to people whose judgement I trust, and announce my final decision early next year.
Whatever I decide, one thing is certain: Cyprus deserves much better than what it has today. And I will never stop saying so, or doing everything I can to help make that better future a reality.
John Christodoulou
