New chance for a united Cyprus?
Northern Cyprus is poised for a change of government: in presidential elections on Sunday, Tufan Erhürman, an opposition politician belonging to the social democratic Republican Turkish Party (CTP), won a clear victory against the current president of the unrecognised republic, Ersin Tatar, who is close to Turkish President Erdoğan. Erhürman wants a rapprochement with the EU and a resumption of negotiations over the Cyprus issue.
What the people want is clear
Now the government must learn its lesson from the election results, comments Kıbrıs Postası, a newspaper based in northern Cyprus:
“This election will be discussed because of its potential to change the entire political balance. The government in particular is facing difficult times. The ruling parties must see this as a defeat and carry out a thorough analysis. They must also take a good look at how to boost voter turnout and people's trust and interest in politics. ... The will of the people, the voters, is clear, and of course it must be respected, the message must be understood and these insights must be incorporated into the next election to correct mistakes.”
A little normality would be a good start
The taz sees the chance of a thaw in the conflict that has remained for the past 50 years:
“That peace will break out in the south-eastern corner of Europe is not to be expected any time soon. The mutual fears and resentments run too deep. And the words of the national guardians of the holy grail on both sides of the Cypriot demarcation line and in the mother countries carry too much weight. But a little normality on the island would be a good start - including free trade, a common football league, being able to live where you want to. All things that should be taken for granted, one would think. But not on Europe's periphery. Not yet.”
Just a pawn on Erdoğan's chessboard
Phileleftheros doesn't believe northern Cyprus can act with political independence:
“The current Turkish Cypriot leader is nothing more than a pawn on Erdoğan's chessboard, whom the Turkish leader allows to take appropriate steps depending on his own interests and intentions. ... It would therefore be wrong to believe that any change of leadership in the Turkish Cypriot community will bring about significant changes in efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue - if this is not on Erdoğan's agenda.”
Good relations with Turkey crucial
Any break with Ankara would be dangerous, Akşam warns:
“Of course our greatest hope is that a government which protects Turkish interests and the Turkish presence on Cyprus will remain in power there. ... Only one that is in harmony with Turkey can guarantee the future of Cyprus and the security and prosperity of Turkish Cypriots. Any other goals or demands would jeopardise the security of both Turkish Cypriots and Turkey - as well as that of the entire region.”
Hope after eight years of standstill
Naftemporiki describes the winner:
“An academic and former 'prime minister' of the pseudo-state, Erhürman adopted a rhetoric of moderation, dialogue and distance from Ankara from the outset. During the campaign he emphasised the need for 'respect and equality' in relations with Turkey, as well as a return to the negotiating table with the aim of establishing a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. This message resonated with a society weary of Tatar's policies and Ankara's growing influence over the internal affairs of the Turkish Cypriots. The election could break the diplomatic deadlock that has persisted since [the failure of the 2017 UN negotiations in] Crans-Montana.”
Resistance to the two-state solution
Finally there is hope, writes Politis:
“The Turkish Cypriots have clearly rejected the two-state solution and resisted attempts to completely alter their secular identity. The landslide victory of the opposition leader in the occupied territories, with the election of the president of the Republican Turkish Party, Tufan Erhürman, as leader of the Turkish Cypriots (with 62 percent against his opponent's 35 percent), represents a commitment by the Turkish Cypriots that pertains to all areas of their lives, including everyday issues and the central issue, which is clearly the Cyprus question.”