Pro Turkey candidate elected as Northern Cyprus president, a negative development

Tatars won 51.69% of the vote, ahead of Mustafa Akinci, who has no good relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in an event that predicts a radical change in relations with the southern part of the island of Cyprus. Akinci has often denounced Turkey's interference in the elections.

The support Akinci received from the candidate who came third, in the first round on October 11th, was not sufficient in his favor, and his team does not exclude a vote recount.  

Tatar's supporters celebrated the victory at the headquarter of his party, where party songs were played and Turkish flags hoisted. 

He winning candidate said in front of his supporters'' I thank the Turkish Cypriot people who elected me this evening via democracy'', thanking also Erdogan and decrying '' those used Turkey as an electoral means''.   

For his part, Akinci congratulated his opponent, saying'' you know what had happened in these elections'', hinting at Turkish interference. 

Turkey hurried to welcome the victory of her candidate, where Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu tweeted '' we congratulate the winner in the presidential elections, Ersin Tatar. We would work together to guarantee growth, development and security of the Turkish Cypriots. We would defend the legitimate rights and interests of the Northern Cyprus in eastern Mediterranean.

For his part, Erdogan tweeted '' I congratulate Ersin Tatar who is elected as president (…) Turkey would proceed to secure all kinds of support for the Cypriot Turkish people''. 

According to the presidency, Tatar talked with Erdogan on phone, after his victory.

Erdogan expressed his beliefs that he would proceed with '' mutual cooperation with the same determination(..) starting with activities related to fuels in eastern Mediterranean and development in North Cyprus''.   

The Turkish president stressed that '' Turkey and North Cyprus would proceed their efforts to find a solution to the Cypriot Question''.

The elections were held in a very tense atmosphere due to the exploration crisis of energy resources in eastern Mediterranean specially between Ankara and Athens main ally of the internationally proclaimed Republic of Cyprus that controls two thirds of the disputed island.  

After exploration operations conducted by Turkey off the northern coasts of Cyprus, the dispute arose again this week, after a Turkish exploration ship was sent to the waters claimed by Greece. European Union leaders denounced Turkey's ''provocations'' which is being threatened with extra European sanctions.   

Akinci who is 72, is an independent Socialist Democrat and supports unification of the island on international federal standards, and easing the North's relation with Ankara, while Tatar, who is 60, advocates a two-state solution.  

Ozmot Bozkort, analyst in the Eastern Mediterranean University in North Cyprus, says'' the Cypriot Turks are not happy as they are dependent on another part and they are blamed constantly or despised''. 

The researcher believes that the supposed interference from the part of Ankara turned elections into a referendum at the expense of ''dignity'' of so many Cypriot Turks.

The communist party ''Akil'' that exists in the south of the island, electing Tatar is '' a negative development'', calling on Greek Cypriots to proceed with abidance by resuming negotiations. 

From its part, the Socialist Party considered the results of elections in the north of the island '' establishing Ankara's decisive role in making decisions in the occupied region."

(L-A)

ANHA