Electoral Timer Ticks Down: Ersin Tatar Falls Behind Tufan Erhürman in Contested Regions
In the lead-up to the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for October 19 in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), incumbent President Ersin Tatar has reaffirmed his political stance on various occasions. Tatar, who has been in office since 2020, has been vocal about his commitment to the two-state solution, with Turkey's backing, and his rejection of federation-based negotiations.
During a recent ceremony honoring veterans, Tatar reinforced his stance on the two-state solution and reiterated his support for the "state" allegedly established by Turkish Cypriots. The ceremony, held in the occupied territories of Cyprus, provided a platform for Tatar to reaffirm his political stance.
Tatar's hardline position on the Cyprus issue has been a consistent theme throughout his presidency, with him regularly criticizing the Greek Cypriot leadership's stance. His stance was further reinforced during the ceremony, where he stated that "returning to zero troops and zero guarantees" is unacceptable.
Recent polling indicates a notable reversal in the voting preferences, with Ersin Tatar losing ground to main opposition candidate Tufan Erhürman. According to a poll by the Turkish-Cypriot news outlet Havadis, Tufan Erhürman leads with 57% of the vote, while Ersin Tatar trails with 43%. However, no further information about the source of the poll or the methodology used is provided.
The shift in political landscape in the occupied territories could signal potential upheaval. Mustafa Akıncı, a former president and vocal critic of Tatar's leadership, has spoken out against the upcoming elections and the broader state of politics under Tatar's leadership. Akıncı, who lost the 2020 elections to Tatar, has criticized the past five years as a "wasted period" due to what he describes as Turkish interference.
Despite the potential upheaval, Tatar remains committed to his political stance. His commitment to the two-state solution could potentially cause upheaval in the political landscape. The Cyprus issue might see movement toward resolution following the upcoming 2023 Northern Cyprus elections, reflecting cautious optimism on both sides, although Tatar himself appears skeptical about change in Greek Cypriot leadership attitude.
The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shares and supports Tatar's rejection of federation-based negotiations, according to Tatar. This shared stance could further solidify Tatar's position in the upcoming elections.
In summary, the October 19, 2023 Northern Cyprus presidential election is characterized by a continuation of Ersin Tatar's leadership and cautious expectations for Cyprus reunification progress, but precise latest electoral developments or forecasts are not clearly documented in the provided search data.
- Ersin Tatar's political stance on the Cyprus issue, particularly his support for a two-state solution with Turkey's backing and rejection of federation-based negotiations, is a central issue in the upcoming October 19 presidential elections in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
- The European Union (EU) and general news outlets have shown interest in the Cyprus issue, given its potential implications on migration policies and legislation, as well as war-and-conflicts, due to the ongoing tension between the Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaderships.
- The outcome of the elections could influence the government's approach toward EU membership and migration policies, as the leading candidate, Tufan Erhürman, may advocate for a more conciliatory stance vis-à-vis the Greek Cypriot leadership.
- Former president Mustafa Akıncı, a vocal critic of Ersin Tatar's leadership, has expressed concerns about the state of politics under Tatar's leadership, potentially indicating a shift in the political landscape of the occupied territories and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
