Election Tracker
Archive Search
Northern Cyprus
At stake: President
Background
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - The self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus—recognized only by Turkey as an independent state and legally a part of Cyprus—seceded after the 1974 Turkish invasion, which took place after a Greece-backed coup staged to unite the island.
An effort towards reunification failed in March 2003, as a proposal put forward by United Nations (UN) secretary-general Kofi Annan was rejected by Northern Cyprus president Rauf Denktash.
In April 2004, Greek Cypriots voted against a new reunification proposal sponsored by the UN in a referendum. In May 2004, the European Union (EU) recognized Cyprus as a member of the continental alliance. Since no reunification deal was struck, only the Greek side joined the EU.
Northern Cyprus held parliamentary elections in February 2005, which resulted in a victory for the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) led by Mehmet Ali Talat.
Click here for Northern Cyprus 2005 House of Representatives Election Tracker
2005 Presidential Election
In early 2005, a presidential election in Northern Cyprus was scheduled for Apr. 17. Current president Rauf Denktash of the Democratic Party (DP)—who has held the post since February 1975—will not seek a new term in office.
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.
Mehmet Ali Talat of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) launched his presidential bid days after his party secured a victory in the House of Representatives ballot. Talat has vowed to fight for reunification, saying, "I take responsibility to present the will of the Turkish Cypriot people to the international community." The CTP candidate said he expects to garner 60 per cent of all cast ballots in the first round.
Speculation about a possible alliance between the National Unity Party (UBP) and the DP was discussed in the media for days. In the end, each faction nominated its own presidential candidate. The UBP chose leader Dervis Eroglu, while the DP—which is currently led by the current president's son, Serdar Denktash—picked Mustafa Arabacioglu.
Other contenders include Huseyin Angolemli of the Communal Liberation Party (TKP), Nuri Cevikel of the New Party (YP) and independent candidate Zeki Besiktepeli.
A KADEM/Kibris poll conducted in late March placed Talat as the frontrunner with 54 per cent, followed by Eroglu with 26 per cent and Arabacioglu with nine per cent.
Voting went on without any major problems on Apr. 17. Final results gave Talat 55.8 per cent of all cast ballots, followed by Eroglu with 22.8 per cent. Turnout was tabled at 69.8 per cent.
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."
Talat officially took over as president on Apr. 24. Ferdi Sabit Soyer was appointed as prime minister on Apr. 26. Soyer has previously served as agriculture, natural resources and energy minister in the DP-CTP coalition administration formed in October 1993.
Political Players
President: Mehmet Ali Talat - CTP
Prime minister: Ferdi Sabit Soyer - CTP
The president is elected to a five-year term by popular vote.
Legislative Branch: The Temsilciler Meclisi (House of Representatives) has 50 members, elected to five-year terms by proportional representation.
Results of Last Election:
President - Apr. 17, 2005
|
Vote% |
|
|
Mehmet Ali Talat (Republican Turkish Party) |
55.8% |
|
Dervis Eroglu (Party of National Unity) |
22.8% |
|
Mustafa Arabacioglu (Democratic Party) |
13.3% |
|
Nuri Cevikel (New Party) |
4.8% |
|
Zeki Besiktepeli (Independent) |
1.7% |
|
Huseyin Angolemli (Communal Liberation Party) |
1.1% |
House of Representatives - Feb. 20, 2005
|
Vote% |
Seats |
|
|
Republican Turkish Party (CTP) |
44.45% |
24 |
|
Party of National Unity (UBP) |
31.71% |
19 |
|
Democratic Party (DP) |
13.49% |
6 |
|
Peace and Democracy Movement (BDH) |
5.81% |
1 |
|
Communal Liberation Party (TKP) |
2.41% |
-- |
|
New Party (YP) |
1.60% |
-- |
|
Nationalist Justice Party (MAP) |
0.52% |
-- |