Former Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides was elected on Sunday as the next president of Cyprus, with his rival conceding defeat and congratulating him.
Christodoulides, 49, won 51.92% to defeat fellow diplomat Andreas Mavroyiannis, 66, who took 48.08%, according to the government election service in the south of the divided Mediterranean island.
Mavroyiannis told reporters: "Tonight a journey has ended, a great journey that I shared with thousands of people. I regret we couldn't achieve the change that Cyprus needed."
A week ago, Christodoulides held 32% against 29.6% for Mavroyiannis, who also ran as an independent, supported by the communist AKEL party.
Christodoulides earlier voiced confidence about a win when he told reporters: "The Cypriot people know and understand what is at stake... I have complete confidence in their judgment."
It is worth noting that Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish forces occupied its northern third in response to a Greek-sponsored coup. However, voters appeared split over whether the division was a priority in the election.
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