Turkish Cypriot hardliner wins elections in occupied Cyprus

·

A hardliner, who favours even closer ties with Turkey and a tougher stance with Greek Cypriots in peace talks, has defeated the leftist incumbent in the Turkish Cypriot leadership runoff on Sunday.

Turkish Cypriot broadcaster BRT says with 100% of the votes counted, Ersin Tatar secured 51.74% of the vote compared to 48.26% for Mustafa Akinci.

READ MORE: Close Turkish Cypriot election result leaves peace deal in the balance.

Akinci, 72, is a champion of Turkish Cypriots who oppose Turkey’s complete domination of their affairs. Tatar, 60, advocates fully aligning Turkish Cypriot policies with those of Turkey, the region’s patron.

Ersin Tatar secured 51.74% of the vote compared to 48.26% for Mustafa Akinci.

Tatar appears to have benefited from a higher turnout in the runoff, managing to rally supporters from the approximately 200,000-strong electorate who may not have voted in the first round.

Akinci conceded defeat to Tatar in a speech to supporters at his campaign headquarters, congratulating his opponent on his victory.

“We went through an election contest that wasn’t normal … These results mark the end of my 45-year political career,” Akinci said. “I wish good luck to our people.”

Tatar declared victory in a speech to his supporters.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took to his official Twitter account to congratulate Tatar for his election victory.

“Turkey will continue to make all necessary efforts to defend the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people,” Erdogan said. 

A first test for the winner will be a meeting with Greek Cypriots and Cyprus’ “guarantors” — Greece, Turkey and Britain — that U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is expected to call soon. The aim will be to figure out if there’s enough common ground to restart dormant peace talks.

Nearly five decades of UN facilitated attempts at achieving reunification based on a federal framework have failed.

Tatar shares the Turkish government view that federation may not be the most viable option and alternatives such as a two-state deal should be pursued.

Source: Ekathimerini.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Summer soundtrack: The ultimate guide to Greek concerts and festivals in 2025

Wherever you are in the country, The Greek Herald has the inside scoop on must-see performances to catch during your summer escape.

Michael Zannis: The Greek Aussie cricket star redefining blindness

Michael Zannis has turned his ‘disability’ into his superpower. He lives as everyone else does and is thriving.

Greek olive oil today: Production, use and export data

Greek olive oil is consumed in large quantities in Greece today. Still, the small population leaves plenty of oil for export.

Greece ranks fifth highest in Europe for short-term rental prices

Greece has become the fifth most expensive destination in Europe for short-term rentals, with the average nightly rate reaching 250 euros.

Greece cracks down on beach violations amid thousands of complaints

Greek authorities are intensifying efforts to combat illegal beach occupation and protect public access to the coastline.

You May Also Like

Greece to receive additional 1.9 billion euros for immigration support

Greece will receive additional funding of 1.9 billion euros for support in immigration matters, Ekathimerini has reported.

The critical role of intellectuals in prompting the Greek Revolution of 1821

As we celebrate the bicentennial anniversary, Macquarie University lecturer and scholar Dr Patricia Koromvokis writes about the role of intellectuals in prompting the Greek Revolution of 1821.

Australia’s Matildas storm into Women’s World Cup semi-finals

Australia's Matildas defeated France and are headed to the semi-finals of the FIFA Women's World Cup for the first time.