Turkish Cypriots have elected Tufan Erhürman, a center-left politician and opposition leader, as the new president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). This entity, recognized only by Turkey, controls the northern third of the island. The election of Erhürman, who received 63% of the votes compared with 35% for the outgoing president Ersin Tatar, is seen as a victory for the supporters of the reunification of Cyprus, an island divided since 1974. Unlike Tatar, who advocates for a 'two-state' solution, Erhürman is a staunch defender of a federal solution, an aspect that could revitalize the stalled reunification negotiations under the supervision of the United Nations.
The election represents a setback for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose government backed Tatar. The RTNC, despite its international isolation, is essentially dependent on Turkey, but the Turkish Cypriot society has shown a path of opening up and democratization. This discrepancy with Ankara's agenda, as well as the pressure to change school rules regarding the Islamic veil, has been a divisive element. Erhürman has promised consultations with Turkey on foreign policy, although relations look tense, especially after Devlet Bahçeli, a far-right ally of Erdogan, suggested rejecting the results and proposed annexing the northern part of Cyprus to Turkey.
Read the full news article on The Country.
