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The internationally recognized Republic of Northern Cyprus has elected a new president. Based on the preliminary final result, voters voted 51.7 percent for former head of government Ersin Tatar, state broadcaster BRT announced Sunday night. Tatar prevailed in a runoff against independent challenger and former president, Mustafa Akinci. He lost with 48.3 percent of the votes.
Tatar belongs to the conservative National Unity Party (UBP) and advocates for a two-state solution on the Mediterranean island. It is supported by Turkey, which militarily controls the northern part of the island and is the only country that recognizes the Republic of Northern Cyprus. The defeated challenger Akinci is campaigning for a reunification with the Republic of Cyprus.
The second round occurred because no candidate had received the required absolute majority of votes in the first round of voting the week before. Tatar won 32.5 percent of the vote, Akinci just under 30 percent. A total of eleven candidates stood for election. Around 200,000 people were able to cast their vote.
The choice came amid a dispute between Turkey, Greece and the Republic of Cyprus over natural gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 following a Greek coup and Turkish military intervention. The south of the island is ruled by the Republic of Cyprus, the north by Turkey militarily. In addition to Turkey and Cyprus, Greece also claims the Northern Cyprus area.
