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Candidate against reunification wins presidentials in North Cyprus
20/04/2010
Eroglu avoids a second round winning a landslide victory in presidential elections · The incoming president announced the peace talks will go on · Several observers hold the European Union responsible for the victory of Turkish Cypriot hardliners.
A political era has come to en end in Cyprus, delaying again a reunification settlement and the consolidation of the peace process. Citizens of the non-recognised republic of North Cyprus withdrew on Sunday their support to the outgoing president, Mehmet Ali Talat. Voters placed their trust in Dervis Eroglu, the candidate of the National Unity Party (UBP), who obtained 50.4% of the share, making unnecessary a second round.
The landslide victory of Cypriot Turkish hardliners has come one year after UBP -the president's party- attained good results in parliamentary elections. Eroglu backs a solution based on the maintenance of political sovereignty for both Greeks and Turks, but said he won't abandon the negotiation table. It remains to be seen whether the new president of North Cyprus will promote the two-confederate states solution or a different option. However, it seems clear that Eroglu, who repeatedly criticized Ali Talat for giving in to Greek pressure and even "selling out" to Greek Cypriots during the peace talks, will try to disassociate himself from the political line of his predecessor.
Repercussions beyond the island
Progress of the peace process in Cyprus -which aims at finding a solution for an island that was split in two after the Turkish invasion in 1974- has repercussions beyond the divided capital of Nicosia. The European Union and Turkey watch recent developments closely. Several observers think that the rejection in elections of Ali Talat's moderate channel stands for the refutation of Brussels' policies on the island. In 2004 the northern area voted in favour of a UN proposal for a peace settlement, but Greek Cypriots turned it down. Then the Greek Republic of Cyprus joined the European Union and, jointly with Greece, stopped the European Commission from fulfilling its promises of ending the commercial blockade on the Turkish Cypriot republic.
Eroglu's victory could also be a barrier for Turkish European aspirations. Ankara is North Cyprus' main ally and the only country that recognizes its sovereignty. But Brussels might not allow further progress to the Turkish candidacy unless Turkey plays a key role for conflict resolution.
Further information:
- Famagusta Gazette: Eroglu wins Cyprus vote
- Hürriyet: Nationalist victory in Cyprus may ease strained Turkey-EU ties:
- Guardian: Erdogan must raise his game on Cyprus
