(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The Party of National Unity (UBP) is likely to fare well in the upcoming legislative election in Northern Cyprus, according to a poll by KADEM. 44.5 per cent of respondents would vote for the conservative UBP in this month’s ballot.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The Party of National Unity (UBP) is likely to fare well in the upcoming legislative election in Northern Cyprus, according to a poll by KADEM. 44.5 per cent of respondents would vote for the conservative UBP in this month’s ballot.
The Republican Turkish Party (CTP) is second with 25.1 per cent, followed by the Democratic Party (DP) with 7.2 per cent, and the Freedom and Reform Party (ORP) with 5.8 per cent.
Relations between the Greek majority and the Turkish minority in Cyprus have been frayed since 1974, when a Greek-sponsored attempt to seize the government was met by military intervention from Turkey. In the skirmish, the Turks gained control of almost two-fifths of the island, which in 1983 declared itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The Turkish government has never acknowledged the Greek Cypriot administration. More than 30,000 Turkish soldiers occupy the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Northern Cyprus held a presidential election in April 2005, which resulted in a victory for CTP candidate Mehmet Ali Talat. In his acceptance speech, Talat declared: "I want to give my hand to the Greek Cypriot people and the Greek Cypriot leadership for peace, to find a solution to our problem and reunify our island."
The president in Northern Cyprus is regarded as the leader of the Turkish community in the island, and acts as chief negotiator in talks with the United Nations (UN) and other international organizations.
In February 2008, Dimitris Christofias—a member of the Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL)—won a presidential run-off vote in Greek Cyprus with 53.37 per cent of the vote. One of Christofias’ main campaign promises was to resume peace talks with Turkish Cyprus. In March 2008, Christofias and Turkish Cypriot president Talat agreed to restart reunification talks.
On Apr. 13, Christofias warned that a UBP victory in the upcoming ballot in Northern Cyprus could hurt reunification talks because it is the party of Talat’s opponents, saying, "If we can’t work things out with this man [Talat], who is considered progressive, then I don’t know if we could ever work things out [with a different leader. ]"
The next legislative election in Northern Cyprus is scheduled for Apr. 19.
Polling Data
Which party would you vote for in the legislative election?
|
Party of National Unity (UBP) |
44.5% |
|
Republican Turkish Party (CTP) |
25.1%. |
|
Democratic Party (DP) |
7.2% |
|
Freedom and Reform Party (ORP) |
5.8% |
Source: KADEM
Methodology: Interviews to 1,400 adults in Northern Cyprus, conducted in March 2009. No margin of error was provided.
