Vassos Lyssarides

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 1974 (30 August) an attempt was made against Dr Vassos Lyssarides life. During the attack, Doros Loizou, EDEK youth leader was killed. He was elected and served as President of the Cyprus Parliament from 1985-1991.

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.