In a decisive election held on Sunday, Turkish Cypriots in the ethnically divided island of Cyprus faced a critical choice: deepen their alignment with Turkey or pivot toward stronger ties with Europe. With approximately 218,000 registered voters, the polls closed at 1500 GMT, marking a significant moment in the region’s political landscape. The election featured seven candidates, but the primary contest was between the hard-right incumbent Ersin Tatar and the center-left challenger Tufan Erhurman. Tatar, 65, has been a vocal advocate for permanently dividing Cyprus and seeking international recognition for a Turkish Cypriot state closely aligned with Turkey’s political, economic, and social policies. His stance echoes that of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who recently reiterated at the U.N. General Assembly that Cyprus comprises “two separate states” and called for formal recognition of the Turkish Cypriot entity. In contrast, Erhurman, 55, has championed a return to negotiations with Greek Cypriots to establish a two-zone federation. He has criticized Tatar’s reluctance to engage in formal peace talks during his five-year tenure, arguing that it has isolated Turkish Cypriots internationally and wasted valuable time. The election unfolds against the backdrop of Cyprus’s division since 1974, when Turkey invaded following a coup by Greek junta-backed supporters of union with Greece. Turkish Cypriots declared independence in 1983, but only Turkey recognizes it, maintaining over 35,000 troops in the island’s northern third. While Cyprus joined the European Union in 2004, only the Greek Cypriot south enjoys full membership benefits, despite many Turkish Cypriots holding EU-recognized passports. Greek Cypriots firmly reject the two-state proposition, viewing it as incompatible with the U.N. and EU-endorsed federation framework. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides has repeatedly stated that talks based on a two-state solution are non-negotiable, fearing Turkey’s potential dominance over the entire island.
Turkish Cypriots vote in an election seen as a choice on deeper Turkey ties or closer EU relations
