President of Cyprus

The President of Cyprus is the country's head of state. The position was created in 1960, after Cyprus gained its independence from the United Kingdom. Currently, the president of Cyprus is Tassos Papadopoulos.

After the 1974 coup d'état which installed Nikos Sampson, Turkey invaded Northern Cyprus; in 1983, the Turks created and recognized the de facto state Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Consequently, the President of Cyprus has not ruled the northern one-third of the island since 1974.

List of presidents

• Archbishop Makarios (1960-1974)
• Nikos Sampson (1974) the coup d'état-installed dictator who overthrew Makarios in 1974
• Glafkos Klerides (1974) Acting President
• Archbishop Makarios (1974-1977)
• Spyros Kyprianou (1977-1988)
• George Vasiliou (1988-1993)
• Glafkos Klerides (1993-2003)
• Tassos Papadopoulos (2003-present day)