Tufan Erhürman, leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), has secured a decisive victory in the presidential elections of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), according to preliminary results announced by the Supreme Election Board.

As of 7:40 p.m. local time (GMT+3), results from 753 of the 777 ballot boxes had been counted. Erhürman achieved 62.80% of the vote, while incumbent President Ersin Tatar, who ran as an independent candidate, garnered 35.77%. The remaining votes were distributed among five other candidates, including independents. Voter turnout stood at 62.83%.

Under Northern Cyprus’s electoral system, a candidate who obtains 50% plus one vote in the first round is declared the winner, meaning Erhürman’s victory is secured without the need for a runoff.

The election has been widely seen as a referendum on the future of the Cyprus issue, dividing voters between two distinct political visions.

Erhürman, a constitutional law professor and former prime minister, advocates for a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal solution under United Nations parameters, seeking renewed dialogue with Greek Cypriot authorities.

Tatar, on the other hand, has long championed a two-state model that aligns closely with Türkiye’s position, emphasizing sovereignty and equal international recognition for Turkish Cypriots. He framed the election as a struggle to preserve the Turkish Cypriot identity and independence.

Speaking to reporters after casting his vote, Erhürman said: “This election is about our children. That’s the consciousness we’ve acted with. The decision made here will impact our future.”

Tatar also addressed voters, describing the poll as a “referendum-like” choice for the community’s future.

“What matters is the Turkish Cypriot people's struggle for existence on these lands, their path toward greater prosperity in the coming period, and their rightful, lawful, and sovereign march into the future as one of the two peoples of Cyprus,” he said, expressing gratitude to Türkiye and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for their continued support.

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Türkiye, was established in 1983 following a series of events that began with a 1974 coup in Cyprus aimed at uniting the island with Greece. Türkiye, acting under its guarantor rights, launched a peace operation to protect the Turkish Cypriot community.

After the intervention, a Turkish Federated State of Cyprus was founded in 1975, later proclaiming independence as the TRNC in 1983. Türkiye has maintained a military presence on the island since the 1974 operation.

Erhürman’s victory is expected to reshape the political landscape in Northern Cyprus, with potential implications for restarting UN-led negotiations on the island’s division. His win may also signal a renewed public appetite for diplomacy, dialogue, and reconciliation after years of political stagnation.

International observers are closely watching how the new administration will balance domestic governance priorities with the complex regional dynamics surrounding the Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus reunification talks. (ILKHA)