European Forum

New Cypriot ‘hardliner’ President may damage Turkey’s EU accession process

Turkish Cypriot hardliner, Dervis Eroglu (72), yesterday (18 April) has defeated incumbent President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Mehmet Ali Talat, in elections that might be of great influence on the EU membership application of Turkey. Official results showed this after nearly all votes were counted.

Eroglu is the leader of the right-wing National Unity Party (UBP) and the current Prime Minister. He won 50.3 per cent of the votes, while Talat garnered 42.8 per cent. Therefore, a second round run-off is not needed. The turnout was about 75 per cent. 

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus declared its unilateral independence in 1983. The country has only been recognised by Turkey that occupied the Northern part of Cyprus in 1974. The election outcome is expected to help determine the future of U.N.-sponsored peace talks on this divided island. Critics of the newly-elected president feared that he would halt the ongoing peace talks with the Greek Cypriots. However, in his victory speech after the election Eroglu assured that he would not be the side to walk away from the negotiating table.

Eroglu is a firm supporter of the independence of the northern part of Cyprus and is against the unification with the Greek Cypriots in the southern part of the island. Talat, on the other hand, favours closer ties with Europe and the reunification of the north and south.

The victory of Eroglu can be of disastrous influence on Turkish attempts to become a European Union member. A resolution to the Cyprus conflict is one of the conditions set by the EU for admission to the Union of Turkey. EU membership now only applies to the Greek part of the island. 

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly said he wants to resolve the Cyprus issue before the end of this year. He urged Eroglu to continue with the peace talks.  

Sources: Hurriyet daily; SE Times; NRC (Dutch)