On April 6, the largest opposition party of Turco-kipriot, the Republican Turkish Party, officially declared Tufan Erhurman as his candidate in the upcoming elections of the Northern Cyprus leadership, which are planned for October 2025.
Erhurman, who heads the party since 2016 and has served as Prime Minister TRK from 2018 to 2019, will resist the current leader Ersin Tatar. Recall that on Friday the largest ruling party of the Northern Cyprus, the Party of National Unity, said the support of the candidacy of Tatar.
Tufan Erhurman-a 54-year-old lawyer, a former professor of law, was the only candidate nominated at the CTP party conference, which took place in the northern part of Nikosia. The event was attended by prominent political figures of both sides of the island, including the former leader of Turko-Kipriot Mehmet Ali Talata and the General Secretary of the party Akel Stefanos Stephan.
Erhurman's candidacy was officially ratified at the conference by the former chairman of the party Ferdy Sabit Soyer. After that, Erhurman addressed the delegates to the speech, thanking the party members for the trust.
“Today you have assigned a very important task on me, but we, CTP members, know that such responsibility cannot be carried alone. Important ways do not go alone, ”he said. Concluding his performance, Erhurman called on the supporters to unity: “We are going on this journey to get rid of the bad proposals imposed on our country. Are you ready to become my companions in this path? "
He devoted most of his speech to the direct appeal to the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Khristodulidis. Erhurman clearly outlined his position in the case of the election:
“[Christodulidis] should know that he does not have authority to make decisions on behalf of all this beautiful island. I will not abandon my rights in Lefke, Morf, Kychen, Famagust, Trikomo or North Nicosia, but whoever said that I have surrendered if the world collapses, I will not give up my rights in pathos, Larnaca, Limasol or South Nicosia, ”he said.
Erhurman emphasized that in matters of energy, hydrocarbons, trade routes and marine jurisdictions, Christolidis will not be able to speak on behalf of all the inhabitants of the island:
“He can speak only with me, with the Turko-Kyprus people,” he added.
The politician also predicted the change in the structure of the authorities:
“Mr. Khristodulidis should be ready for the day when Turko-Kipriot will become president in the framework of the rotational presidency, and that not a single decision can be made without the consent of at least one Turko-Kipriot. I'm ready. I urge him to be ready. "
Erhurman emphasized the importance of dialogue:
“We will not dwell on coffee or food. We will sit down at the table and discuss measures to strengthen trust, the intersection of Mia Milia, the gates of Famagusta and Paphos, Lurujin, direct trade, equal contact of our athletes, artists and entrepreneurs with the world, ”he said.
He also warned that the time has come for real actions:
“[Christodulidis] will no longer be able to say“ I want a solution ”, evading responsibility. If on his part there is a sincere desire to find a solution, he must be ready. If not, a new, much less comfortable period awaits him. ”
It is expected that the October elections will be a decisive moment for the future negotiations on the Cyprus issue: Turks-kipriots will be chosen between the approach of the Tatar, insisting on two states, and the Erhurman plan to resume negotiations on the federal decision.
At the moment, Erhurman is the favorite of the presidential race and is ahead of the current President Ersin Tatar by 5%.
Source: Cyprus-Mail.com
