Vassos Lyssarides

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Vassos Lyssarides

6th President of the House of Representatives
In office
1986 – 1991
Preceded by Georgios Ladas
Succeeded by Alexis Galanos

1st Presiden of EDEK
In office
1970 – 2002
Succeeded by Yiannakis Omirou

Born May 13, 1920
Lefkara, Cyprus
Political party EDEK
Spouse Barbara Cornwall Lyssarides
Religion Christian
Website www.lyssarides.com/

Dr Vassos Lyssarides is a Cypriot politician who has been a central figure in Cyprus politics since the island's independence.

He was born in 1920 in the village of Lefkara. He was educated at the Pancyprian Gymnasium and then studied medicine at the University of Athens. He became involved in politics early on in his life and took an active part in the anticolonial struggle against the British (1955-1959). He participated in the London conference in 1959 for the establishment of Cyprus independence. In 1960 he was elected member of the first parliament of the Cyprus Republic and since then has been re-elected to all the consecutive parliaments.

In 1969 he founded EDEK, the first Socialist political party of Cyprus. He was repeatedly elected president of his party until the year 2002. In 2002 he assumed the title of Honorary President.

On 30 August 1974, an attempt was made against his life; during the attack, EDEK youth leader Doros Loizou was killed. Lyssarides was elected and served as President of the House of Representatives from 1985 to 1991.