President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades’ last day in office will be on February 28th, according to a written statement on Friday by Andreas Iosif, Director of the President’s Press Office.

He said that after ten years in office, he will hand over the reins of the state to the newly elected President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides.

On Tuesday, February 28 at 11:30 am, President Anastasiades will attend the special session of the House of Representatives for the inauguration ceremony of the newly elected President of the Republic.

After the ceremony, President Anastasiades will return to the Presidential Palace, where the presidential couple will welcome the new President and the First Lady. After their meeting at the Office of the President of the Republic, President Christodoulides will escort President Anastasiades, who will depart from the Presidential Palace.                              

The statement noted that President Anastasiades is the seventh President of the Republic of Cyprus. He was elected the first time in 2013 and re-elected in 2018. During his decade long tenure, he handled three major crises, the financial, health, and in the last year, the consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, while significant reforms were implemented such as the introduction of the General Health Plan (GeSY), the minimum wage and the reduction of the military service, the announcement said.

During the decade, Iosif added, "efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem were continuous and uninterrupted, however, all efforts were met with the uncompromising and negative stance of the other side.”

The statement added that the Anastasiades government leaves behind as a legacy for the people of Cyprus, the "Cyprus - Tomorrow" Plan, which is expected to add an additional 7% to the Gross Domestic Product. Also predicted is the creation of more than 11,000 well-paying jobs. The benefits resulting from the implementation of the Plan will be for all citizens, regardless of their political affiliation, the statement said.

During his Presidency, Nicos Anastasiades received a series of honorary distinctions from heads of states and governments. President Anastasiades, it added, was also the recipient of honorary distinctions from religious leaders, while four higher education institutions awarded him honorary doctorates.