Northern Cyprus Election Revives Hopes of Peace

Opposition candidate Tufan Erhurman won the presidential election in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) by a landslide after campaigning on resuming negotiations with rival Greek Cypriots to establish a two-zone federation after an eight-year stalemate, the Associated Press reported. 

Erhurman, 55, secured 62.8 percent of the vote, defeating incumbent Ersin Tatar, 65, who received 35.8 percent, according to unofficial figures. 

Speaking at his victory rally, Erhurman said the results represented the victory of all Turkish Cypriots, regardless of party affiliation. He added that any future steps on reviving Cypriot peace efforts would be taken in consultation with the Turkish government. 

With this vote, Turkish Cypriots rejected Tatar’s two-state vision for Cyprus, a plan Turkey has supported since 2017, when the last major peace effort collapsed. Greek Cypriots reject the two-state proposal, which they consider inconsistent with the United Nations and European Union-endorsed framework for a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, Al Jazeera noted. 

Throughout Tatar’s five years in office, Erhurman had been a strong critic of his refusal to engage in formal peace talks, saying it came at a cost, especially because it alienated Turkish Cypriots from the EU and the international sphere.  

Cyprus joined the EU in 2004, but only the southern Greek Cypriots enjoy full EU benefits, as the internationally recognized government is there. Still, many Turkish Cypriots have EU-recognized Cyprus passports while living in the north. 

While the recent election results represent hopes for a UN-backed push to restart formal negotiations, serious challenges remain in reaching a peace deal.  

Cyprus was divided in 1974 following a Turkish invasion, days after Greek junta-backed supporters of unification with Greece carried out a coup. Only Turkey recognizes a 1983 Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence while maintaining more than 35,000 peacekeepers in the region.