Erhurman wins TRNC Presidency as Türkiye pledges continued support

Tufan Erhurman, the leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), has been elected as the new President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), based on unofficial results. The election outcome was met with immediate and widespread congratulatory messages from senior officials in Türkiye, who emphasized the strength of the bilateral relationship.

Türkiye's Unwavering Backing

In a statement on social media platform NSosyal, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan extended his congratulations. He characterized the election as a demonstration of the Turkish Cypriot people's democratic maturity and a clear reflection of their political will. "Türkiye will continue to defend the TRNC’s sovereign rights and interests, together with the Turkish Cypriot people, on every platform," President Erdoğan stated, underscoring the nation's steadfast role as a guarantor power. Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz and the Turkish Foreign Ministry issued separate declarations, both using the terms "motherland and guarantor" to describe Türkiye's enduring commitment to the security and development of the Turkish Cypriot people.

A Pledge for Coordinated Foreign Policy

In his first remarks following the victory, President-elect Erhurman moved to solidify the strategic alliance. He explicitly pledged that no foreign policy decisions regarding the Cyprus issue would be made without prior consultation with Türkiye during his term. "A foreign policy for Cyprus or any position on the Cyprus issue will never be determined without consultation with Türkiye," Erhurman affirmed. He further described the strengthening of ties between the TRNC and Türkiye as a fundamental mission of his incoming administration.

Broad Acclaim from Turkish Officials

The peaceful and democratic nature of the TRNC presidential election was hailed by other high-level Turkish authorities. Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş expressed his hope that the results would yield positive outcomes for the entire Turkic world. Echoing this sentiment, Türkiye's Communications Director, Burhanettin Duran, described the election process as a powerful indicator of the maturity achieved by Turkish Cypriot democracy.