Turk Cypriot moderate wins election in major policy shift in conflict

A moderate candidate won Turkish Cypriot presidential elections on Sunday, defeating a hardliner in a pivotal vote that could help revive stalled U.N. talks on reunifying Cyprus.

Centre-left politician Tufan Erhurman sailed to victory with 62.8% of the vote from just over 218,000 registered voters, defeating incumbent Ersin Tatar on a platform of reinvigorating talks with estranged Greek Cypriots on the future of Cyprus.

Erhurman, a lawyer, has pledged to explore a federal solution — long supported by the United Nations — to end the island's nearly 50-year division.

Tatar and Turkey, the only country which recognises breakaway North Cyprus, had backed a two-state policy, which has been ruled out by Greek Cypriots. Tatar, who came to power in 2020, received 35.8% of the vote.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan congratulated Erhurman on his victory, praising the vote as a reflection of the democratic maturity of Turkish Cypriots.

"We will continue to defend the sovereign rights and interests of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus together with our Turkish Cypriot brothers and sisters on every platform," Erdogan said in a post on X.

Cypriot President and Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides also congratulated Erhurman, saying he was committed to resuming peace talks.

Cyprus was split in 1974 in a Turkish invasion triggered by a brief Greek-backed coup, which followed sporadic fighting after the breakdown of a power-sharing administration in 1963. North Cyprus was proclaimed in 1983 and peace talks have been stalled since 2017.

The president of North Cyprus is mandated to represent the Turkish Cypriot community in negotiations with Greek Cypriots, who represent Cyprus in the European Union and have a say in Turkey's aspirations to join the bloc.

Mehmet Ali Talat, Turkish Cypriot leader from 2005 to 2010, said Ankara may adapt its approach to the idea of a two-state deal.

"Can it change? I believe so. It depends on what Turkey can get out of a solution," Talat told the Greek Cypriot Politis newspaper in an interview published on Sunday.