Tufan Erhürman, leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), is poised to become the new leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, following a strong performance in Sunday’s election. With nearly all votes counted, Erhürman has secured a clear and commanding lead over incumbent Ersin Tatar, signalling a major shift in political direction in the north.
With 95% of votes counted, Erhürman leads with over 63%, while Tatar, backed by the National Unity Party (UBP)and known for his support of a two-state solution, trails at 35.7%.
According to the Supreme Electoral Council, voter turnout reached 61%, about three points higher than the first round of the 2020 elections, but six points lower than the second round. Of 218,313 registered voters, 122,195 cast their ballot, with 119,948 valid and 2,247 invalid.
In an official statement, the Council’s President Bertan Özerdağ confirmed that Erhürman received 82,521 votes, compared to 46,915 for Tatar.
Celebrations are already well underway at CTP headquarters, where supporters have been gathering throughout the evening in a mood of excitement and relief. According to Politis correspondent Yiota Hadjikosta, the atmosphere turned festive early on, as the scale of Erhürman’s lead became clear.
In contrast, the atmosphere at Tatar’s campaign office has been described as subdued, as his electoral defeat now appears all but confirmed.
With the result not expected to change, the “Supreme Electoral Council” is due to certify the outcome on Monday morning - a formality at this point.
Observers note that the vote marks a turning point in Turkish Cypriot politics, ushering in what has been described as a new era of cautious optimism and conditional re-engagement.