The polls have closed in the presidential elections in which the majority of candidates have so far competed in northern Cyprus.

Northern Cyprus in 1983, which was declared unilaterally, and only Turkey recognizes the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, was at the time at the polls to elect the 10th president.

At 18:00 local time, the polls closed and the counting process began. The Supreme Electoral Council will first announce the results of the presidential and then constitutional referendum. Both results are intended to be clarified until 10:00 p.m.

The YSK announced that the participation rate in the elections was around 55 percent.

In fact, 11 candidates, 7 of whom are independent, are competing in the elections scheduled for April 26, but postponed due to the coronavirus epidemic. If neither candidate reaches an absolute majority in the first round, the two candidates with the most votes will meet in the second round on October 18.

The president, who will be elected, will serve a 5-year term.

The constitutional amendment, which plans to increase the number of judges in the superior courts, was also voted in the elections where 198,867 voters were able to vote.

President Mustafa Akıncı, elected in 2015, is running as an independent candidate, Chairman of the National Unity Party (UBP) and Prime Minister Ersin Tatar, Chairman of the Turkish Republican Party (CTP), Tufan Erhürman, Chairman of the Renaissance Party (YDP) , Erhan Arıklı ‘In addition, Kudret Özersay, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Serdar Denktaş, MP from the Nicosia Democratic Party (DP), are competing as independent candidates.

While playing the game, Akıncı said, “Let’s not sit in our house, let’s use our vote by listening to our inner voice. This choice is not a personal future choice, it is a choice that people will decide on behalf of our social future.” He said.

Prime Minister Ersin Tatar also used the game. Then, in his statement, he said: “Citizens must go to the polls. Everyone must vote. The Turkish Cypriot people are a sovereign and equal people, and this must be respected.

3 days before the presidential election, on October 8, 2020, which has been closed since 1974, Turkey’s military intervention in a part of Varosha was opened to the public, this step has sparked a debate among the candidates.

Prime Minister and Presidential candidate Ersin Tatar is the leader of the National Unity Party, known for its closeness to Ankara. After Tatar’s press conference with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on October 6, he announced that Marash would be partially opened and the Popular Party, a government partner, withdrew from the coalition; His government fell in northern Cyprus. Kudret Özersay, leader of the Popular Party and Minister of Foreign Affairs until his resignation, is a candidate in today’s elections.

President Mustafa Akıncı also harshly criticized Tatar’s initiatives with Ankara. Stating that the decision to partially open Maraş was made without his knowledge, Akıncı said: “What has been done is a disgrace in the name of democracy, the continuation of direct intervention in the elections. There has been systematic and organized work during months to prevent me from being cast. A script has been written and Mr. Tatar lets himself be an extra on this stage. “