Northern Cyprus Elections: The Supporter Of The Island's Unification Wins The Victory
- 20.10.2025, 15:55
Tufan Erhurman is Erdogan's opponent.
The leader of the opposition Republican Turkish Party Tufan Erhurman won the presidential election in the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus with about 63% of the vote. His rival, incumbent President Ersin Tatar, who is backed by Turkey and favors partitioning Cyprus, received about 36 percent, The Insider wrote.
Erhurman called the results "a general victory for Turkish Cypriots" and pledged to maintain close relations with Turkey, saying there was no cause for concern. He also announced his intention to resume talks on the island's reunification.
The victory of an opposition pro-European candidate in Northern Cyprus elections is a serious challenge for Erdogan, says Ivan Preobrazhensky, an expert on Eastern and Central Europe:
"The winner of the elections in Northern Cyprus is a representative of the opposition pro-European Turkish party. In Turkey itself, his fellow party members, as well as the entire opposition, are now under pressure, with many arrested. He went to the polls, among other things, under the slogan of concluding a federation agreement with the Greek part of the island, which would allow Turkish Cypriots to join the EU. After his victory, supporters of Turkish leader Erdogan called for the unrecognized republic of Northern Cyprus to be incorporated into Turkey. Erdogan himself - however, on the second day after the election - congratulated the new "president" after the winner's assurances that he would stay in line with Turkish policy and would not start separate negotiations with the Greeks.
The election nevertheless hits the political legitimacy of Recep Erdogan himself in Turkey, where he is now actively eliminating potential rivals in the struggle for the presidency. And given the statement of the Greek Foreign Ministry that the elections in Northern Cyprus open the door to a possible reunification of the island, the situation may soon escalate sharply, up to a tough diplomatic conflict between Athens and Ankara."
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is a partially recognized state occupying the northern third of the island of Cyprus with a population of less than 300,000 people. It is recognized only by Turkey and is very dependent on its economic, political and military support. Turkey stationed a contingent of its troops in Northern Cyprus, the Republic of Cyprus and the UN consider it an occupying force. The Republic is a member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Organization of Turkic States as an observer.