Nationalists Win Elections in Turkish Cyprus
Win by Turkish Nationalists Complicates Unification of Cyprus
Apr 22, 2009
One of the world’s longest running territorial disputes has been put further into question with the election of the conservatives in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is only recognized by Turkey but is effectively independent. Cyprus is divided by a green line separating the Turks in the north and Greek Cyprus in the south. Only Greek Cyprus is recognized internationally holding seats at the United Nations and represented in the EU.
Voters returned the right-wing National Unity Party (UBP), and its leader Dervish Eroglu, to power after five years in opposition with 44 percent of the April 2 general elections. The nationalist UBP now has enough support to form a government without a coalition by winning 26 seats in the 50-member parliament. However, some analysts expect the party to consider teaming up with smaller parties to strengthen its ability to govern. The center-left Republican Turkish Party (CTP), allied to President Mehmet Ali Talat, is now out of power, dropping from 44.5 percent in the 2005 elections to 29 percent, giving the CTP 15 seats.
President Talat Still Pursuing Cyprus Reunification Deal
President Talat’s term runs for another year and he hopes to reach an agreement with his Greek counterpart, President Demetris Christofias, before he faces re-election in 2010. The recent elections now put into question those negotiations because the UBP publicly favors a two-state solution, as opposed to the federal system now being discussed by Talat and Christofias.
National Unity Party chief Eroglu addressed supporters in Nicosia celebrating with drums, whistles, and fireworks following the vote and said he still supports Talat’s negotiations, which are also backed by the Turkish government in Ankara.
It's the Turkish Republic's Economy, Not Reunification Talks With Greek Cypriots
While reunification has been the perennial political issue for voters, the April elections were more about economics. Turkish Cypriots were fed up with broken promises of the international community to ease their economic isolation and moves by the ruling CTP party. The CTP wants Northern Cyprus to join the EU and the party forced through structural reforms required for EU membership, but these measures have increased the cost of living and further exacerbated the deteriorating economic situation. Northern Cyprus is facing a deep recession, compounded by government mismanagement, the global economic downturn, and a drought. Most Turkish voters have been turned off by the political wrangling with the Greek side and voted with their wallets.
The win by the UBP also makes Turkey’s ambitions for EU membership more tenuous. Turkey has been pushing the international community to address the issue of Northern Cyprus, and has been holding out for a resolution of the crisis.
Other smaller parties also won seats in the April 2, vote; Serder Denktash’s center-right Democratic Party (DP) took 11 percent and now has five seats. The leftist Communal Democracy Party (TDP) and the Freedom and Reform Party (ORP) both have two seats.
The UBP’s success in April’s election is an historic one – this is the first time any party has won an outright majority in Northern Cyprus.
