With 80 days remaining until the "presidential elections" scheduled for October 19 in the North, the political landscape is beginning to shift. According to recent polling reported by the Turkish-Cypriot news outlet Havadis, incumbent leader Ersin Tatar is losing ground to main opposition candidate Tufan Erhürman.

As Offsite reports, the poll places Erhürman ahead with 57% of the vote, while Tatar trails with 43%—a notable reversal that signals potential upheaval in the occupied territories' political balance.

Akıncı Criticizes Tatar and Turkey's Role

Former Turkish-Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı has recently spoken out against the upcoming elections and the broader state of politics under Tatar’s leadership. Akıncı criticized the past five years as a "wasted period" due to what he describes as Turkish interference that led to Tatar’s victory in 2020.

He expressed hope that a new chapter could begin with Erhürman at the helm, suggesting that Erhürman would be capable of ushering in a genuinely “new” era.

Akıncı also predicted that if Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan refrains from repeating the interference tactics used in the last election, Erhürman could win outright in the first round.

Still, speculation persists across the occupied territories about whether Erdoğan will again seek to influence the outcome of the election.

Tatar Doubles Down on Two-State Rhetoric

Despite trailing in polls, Ersin Tatar remains firmly committed to his political stance. During a recent ceremony honoring veterans, he reiterated his unwavering support for the “state” that Turkish Cypriots allegedly established, reinforcing his position in favor of the two-state solution with Turkey’s backing.

He also rejected any return to federation-based negotiations. “Returning to zero troops and zero guarantees is unacceptable,” Tatar stated, referencing the federal model once proposed in past peace talks. He added that Turkish President Erdoğan shares and supports this position publicly.