Tufan Erhürman, leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), has been elected as the new head of the Turkish Cypriot community, securing a decisive 62.76% of the vote in Sunday’s vote in the Cypriot North. His main rival, outgoing leader Ersin Tatar, who was backed by Ankara, received 35.81%.

Read Also

The voter turnout stood at 64.87%, according to the “Supreme Electoral Council” in the north. With his first-round victory, Erhürman replaces Tatar, marking a significant political shift in the occupied areas.

In his victory speech, Erhürman called for unity among Turkish Cypriots, declaring that “there are no losers in this election.” He emphasized that his leadership would focus on inclusion and reconciliation, announcing his resignation from the presidency of his party in order to serve “all citizens with absolute impartiality.”

“We said we would walk together, win together, and govern together — and we kept those promises,” he told his supporters in Nicosia. “From this moment on, I am not just the leader of a party, but of all my people.”

Erhürman expressed gratitude to his supporters, coalition partners, and even voters from other political backgrounds, framing his victory as a mandate for consensus and cooperation. He also reiterated his intention to maintain close coordination with Turkey in external affairs, signaling a pragmatic but more moderate stance compared to his predecessor.

The outcome sparked immediate reactions across the region.

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides congratulated Erhürman and said he looks forward to meeting him “as soon as possible.” Christodoulides reaffirmed his government’s readiness to resume substantive Cyprus reunification talks based on the UN framework, noting that the upcoming informal expanded meeting announced by UN Secretary-General António Guterres could serve as a “critical opportunity” for restarting negotiations.

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis echoed that message, calling Erhürman’s election “a new chapter of hope and expectation for the reunification of the island on the basis of UN resolutions.” He added that Cyprus should “send a universal message of unity,” stressing that “divisions have no place in today’s turbulent world.”

House Speaker and DISY President Annita Demetriou welcomed the result, saying the Turkish Cypriot community “turned its back on the two-state solution,” while AKEL Secretary-General Stefanos Stefanou hailed the vote as “a positive and hopeful message in favor of federal reunification.”

From Ankara, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan congratulated Erhürman, describing the election as proof of “the democratic maturity” of the Turkish Cypriot community, and pledging continued support for the “TRNC’s (sic) rights and interests on every platform.” However, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reiterated that “the only realistic solution to the Cyprus problem lies in recognizing two separate states on the island,” highlighting ongoing differences between Ankara and those supporting a federal solution.

Outgoing leader Ersin Tatar accepted the result, expressing respect for the “voters’ decision” but attributing his loss to both internal and external factors, including alleged influence from the “southern side” and the EU. In his remarks to Kıbrıs TV, Tatar defended his five-year record, emphasizing his “unwavering commitment” to Turkey and to promoting the two-state vision. He congratulated Erhürman and said he would now “take a period of rest” before deciding his next steps.

Erhürman’s victory has been widely interpreted as a potential turning point for the Cyprus peace process, stalled since the collapse of negotiations at Crans-Montana in 2017. While Erhürman maintains good ties with Ankara, his pro-federal stance and emphasis on dialogue could help rebuild trust between the two communities and renew hopes for reunification within the UN framework.

Whether this shift in leadership will translate into meaningful progress remains to be seen, but across both communities, the message from Sunday’s vote was clear: the Turkish Cypriot electorate voted for change, consensus, and a fresh start.