Turkish Cypriots elect Tufan Erhurman in northern Cyprus polls

More than 218,000 radical voted successful Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) enactment predetermination that could signifier the island’s governmental direction.

Opposition campaigner Tufan Erhurman has won the statesmanlike predetermination successful the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), decisively defeating incumbent Ersin Tatar, the Turkish Cypriot High Electoral Council has announced.

Erhurman, president of the centre-left Republican Turkish Party (CTP), secured 62.76 percent of the vote, compared with 35.81 percent for Tatar successful Sunday’s election.

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“There are nary losers successful this election. We, the Turkish Cypriot people, person won together,” Erhurman said aft the announcement.

“I volition workout my responsibilities, peculiarly successful matters of overseas policy, successful consultation with the Republic of Turkiye. Let nary 1 worry,” helium added, referring to Ankara’s longstanding involvement successful Northern Cyprus.

Tatar, 65, was supported by the Turkish authorities and advocates a two-state solution for Cyprus. Erhurman, 55, a lawyer calved successful Nicosia and educated astatine the University of Ankara, has said helium intends to restart negotiations with Greek Cypriots aimed astatine a federal reunification of the island. He antecedently took portion successful talks nether erstwhile Turkish Cypriot person Mehmet Ali Talat betwixt 2008 and 2010 and served arsenic TRNC premier curate from February 2018 to May 2019.

Northern Cyprus occupies little than a 3rd of the Mediterranean land and is recognised lone by Turkiye, which maintains much than 35,000 peacekeepers successful the region.

Turkish Cypriot person Ersin Tatar casts his ballot astatine a polling presumption during the Turkish Cypriot enactment predetermination successful the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) connected October 19, 2025 [Birol Bebek/AFP]

Divided island

Cyprus was divided successful 1974 aft a coup successful the southbound aimed astatine uniting the land with Greece. Turkish Cypriots declared independency successful 1983, 9 years aft Turkiye’s subject involution pursuing a little Greek-backed coup which threatened the island’s Turkish community.

Cyprus joined the European Union successful 2004, but lone the Greek Cypriot southbound – location to the internationally recognised authorities – enjoys afloat EU rank benefits. Many Turkish Cypriots clasp EU-recognised Cyprus passports portion residing successful the north.

Greek Cypriots cull the two-state proposal, which they spot arsenic incompatible with the United Nations and EU-endorsed model for a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation.

There are astir 218,000 registered voters successful Northern Cyprus. Polls closed astatine 15:00 GMT connected Sunday, and ballot counting took spot nether the supervision of the TRNC Supreme Election Board astatine centres crossed the territory.

Greek Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides congratulated Erhurman connected his victory, reaffirming his committedness to resuming negotiations with Turkish Cypriot leaders.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan besides congratulated Erhurman successful a station connected societal media, adding that Turkiye would “continue to support the rights and sovereign interests” of the breakaway territory.