Christos Patsalides has announced his intention to run to be the first elected governor of the Paphos district in 2024.
Patsalides served as Interior minister under President Tasos Papadopoulos and then Health minister under President Demetris Christofias.
He then worked as chairman of the European Capital of Culture organisation in Paphos in 2017. He had since retreated from the limelight, but is now returning to frontline politics with a gubernatorial run.
In a social media post, he said “we are in a period of pivotal importance for the modernisation of our state and local government. By adopting new institutions and organisational standards, we are called upon to put the transition of our country to a new era on solid foundations.”
“As a doctor and former professor or European law, I possess the academic knowledge as well as the necessary experiences from my tenure in the leadership of two ministries, in particular the Interior ministry,” he said.
He added, “I have also proven in practice my capacity for hard work and also my true love for Paphos as chairman of the European Capital of Culture organisation … where for five years, we voluntarily worked together with hundreds of friends, volunteers, and partners.”
The next local elections are set to take place in June.