As the Turkish Cypriot leadership election campaign heats up, the two main contenders, CTP’s (Republican Turkish Party) Tufan Erhürman and incumbent Ersin Tatar, are setting out sharply contrasting messages, with Erhürman directing criticism at President Nikos Christodoulides and Tatar announcing new plans for Varosha.
Erhürman: Political equality cannot be a bargaining chip
CTP leader and candidate Tufan Erhürman used his rally in occupied Nicosia to send a pointed message to President Nikos Christodoulides. “Political equality is not a bargaining chip,” he said, warning that the Turkish Cypriot side would not renegotiate issues “agreed 50 times already.”
He argued that no deal on security could move forward without Turkish Cypriot consent and dismissed claims that hydrocarbons would only be shared after a settlement. “They will know that I am a partner in everything on this island. I am a partner in Paphos, in Limassol and in Larnaca,” he declared. Erhürman pledged that after 20 October, the will of the Turkish Cypriot people for a solution would be put firmly on the table.
Tatar: Second phase of Varosha opening
Incumbent Ersin Tatar, speaking at the Atatürk sports centre in occupied Nicosia, placed Varosha at the heart of his campaign message. “In the new period, we will begin the transition to the second phase of the opening of Varosha,” he announced.
Tatar outlined plans for a new zoning scheme, designed to reflect “current approaches to urban planning,” incorporate past survey studies, and integrate Varosha into occupied Famagusta “without harming holders of legal rights.”
Tatar’s “offensive diplomacy” vision
Tatar tied the Varosha plan to a broader strategy of “offensive diplomacy,” which he said marks “the end of the failed federation era that lasted more than half a century.” He insisted this approach is not merely about recognition but about lifting isolation and embargoes, which he argued would bring “tangible benefits” to Turkish Cypriots.
Thanking Turkey for its “material and moral support,” Tatar accused the Greek Cypriot side of blocking progress, citing the collapse of talks at Crans-Montana over “zero troops, zero guarantees.” He reiterated his call for sovereign equality and a two-state framework.
Two contrasting campaign messages
The latest rallies highlight the contrast between the two leading contenders for the Turkish Cypriot leadership:
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Erhürman emphasises renewed engagement in negotiations, political equality and partnership across the island.
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Tatar promotes unilateral steps in Varosha and an “offensive diplomacy” doctrine based on sovereign equality and two states.
With less than a month until the vote, the contest is shaping up as a clear choice between two opposing strategies for the future of the Turkish Cypriot community.
CNA sourced reporting
