Nicosia, Cyprus. Former first lady Androula Vassiliou said her late husband, former president George Vassiliou, lamented not achieving the reunification of Cyprus, calling it his greatest unfulfilled goal. She spoke as his body lay in state.
Reflections on presidency and reforms
Androula Vassiliou said Cyprus would have been a very different country had George Vassiliou served a second presidential term, saying he established the republic and laid the foundations of the modern state. She said his narrow defeat in the 1993 election prevented him from completing reforms he had begun.
She said he missed the opportunity to continue his work by a few hundred votes and argued that a second term would have led to a different Cyprus.
Public reaction and meritocracy
She described Vassiliou as a workaholic who pursued his goals with determination and said public reaction following his death showed widespread recognition of his contribution.
She said she received messages from citizens who told her they had not supported him politically but had benefited from a system based on merit rather than patronage, adding that they conveyed the view that meritocracy must prevail.
Legacy and final concerns
According to Androula Vassiliou, her husband’s enduring legacy was his commitment to democracy and a humane approach to politics. She said that even in his final days, the Cyprus issue remained his central concern and that he was anguished over how the island could be reunited.
What do you think George Vassiliou’s legacy means for Cyprus today?
