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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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Communist Cyprus Prez to 'Work Within Free Market'

'Pragmatic' winner not hard-line red: analysts

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(Newser) – New President Dimitris Christofias' win in Cyprus makes him the first Communist ever to lead an EU state—but he has pledged to work within the free market, reports the Guardian. His party has a Marxist manifesto, but analysts say that Christofias is a pragmatist whose policies are more social democratic than old-school Communist.

Many Cypriots hope that Christofias will be able to finally unite the long-divided island that Greeks share with Turks, but not all are convinced he will be able to keep the economy running—and some are concerned about having a Communist in power. "Not in my wildest dreams did I ever think this island would turn red," a teacher grumbled. "My father would turn in his grave at the thought that godless communists were in power."

Supporters of Communist President-elect Dimitris Christofias wave Cyprus flags and a flag depicting the image of Che Guevara during victory celebrations outside his campaign headquarters in divided capital Nicosia, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008. Christofias won with 53.36 of the vote, against 46.64 for conservative rival Ioannis Kasoulides, final...
Supporters of Communist President-elect Dimitris Christofias wave Cyprus flags and a flag depicting the image of Che Guevara during victory celebrations outside his campaign headquarters in divided capital...   (Associated Press)
Supporters of Communist President-elect Dimitris Christofias hold a huge AKEL party flag during a victory rally at Eleftheria Stadium in Makedonitissa, Cyprus, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008. Christofias won with 53.36 of the vote, against 46.64 for Conservative rival Ioannis Kasoulides, final results showed. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
Supporters of Communist President-elect Dimitris Christofias hold a huge AKEL party flag during a victory rally at Eleftheria Stadium in Makedonitissa, Cyprus, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008. Christofias won with...   (Associated Press)
An elderly man leaves a polling booth after voting in the Presidential election in Nicosia, Cyprus, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008. Cypriots were voting for a new president choosing between a right-wing former foreign minister Ioannis Kasoulides and the head of a reformed communist party Dimitris Christofias, whose clashing ideologies are...
An elderly man leaves a polling booth after voting in the Presidential election in Nicosia, Cyprus, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008. Cypriots were voting for a new president choosing between a right-wing former...   (Associated Press)
Supporters of Communist President-elect Dimitris Christofias shout slogans as they wave Cyprus and Che Guevara flags during victory celebrations outside his campaign headquarters in the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008. Christofias won with 53.36 of the vote, against 46.64 for conservative rival Ioannis Kasoulides, final...
Supporters of Communist President-elect Dimitris Christofias shout slogans as they wave Cyprus and Che Guevara flags during victory celebrations outside his campaign headquarters in the divided capital...   (Associated Press)
Presidential candidate Dimitris Christofias, 61, head of the reformed communist AKEL party votes with his grandson Dimitris, right, in the Presidential election in Makedonitissa, a suburb of the capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
Presidential candidate Dimitris Christofias, 61, head of the reformed communist AKEL party votes with his grandson Dimitris, right, in the Presidential election in Makedonitissa, a suburb of the capital...   (Associated Press)
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