Nationalist wins northern Cyprus election

Derviş Eroğlu to replace Mehmet Ali Talat, casting doubt on reunification talks.

Turkish voters on the divided island of Cyprus have voted for Derviş Eroğlu of the nationalist National Unity Party to become their new leader, replacing Mehmet Ali Talat.

Eroğlu is currently the hardline prime minister of the Turkish Cypriot community in the Turkish-occupied north, and his election is expected to complicate the ongoing settlement talks with the Greek community. Eroğlu won just over half of the votes cast, just enough to be elected in the first round yesterday (18 April). Only around 43% voted for the centre-left Talat.

Eroğlu told a Turkish broadcaster last night that “no one must think that I will walk away from the negotiating table”. He said that the talks would continue. “I will work with goodwill for a solution that takes my community’s rights into account,” he said.

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Stefanos Stefanou, a spokesperson for the government of Cyprus, the internationally recognised state in the island’s Greek part, described the vote as a “negative development”.

The continued Turkish occupation has hampered Turkey’s bid for membership of the European Union.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey’s prime minister, said yesterday that his government would continue backing peace talks in Cyprus.

In a statement issued on Monday morning, the European Commission said that it was “crucial” for the settlement talks to continue.

“There is no alternative to a solution to the Cyprus problem. The status quo is in no one’s interest. Turkish Cypriots are EU citizens and should enjoy all benefits of EU membership as soon as possible. It is in the hands of both leaders to make this happen.”