Akıncı wins the TRNC Presidential race

Mustafa Akıncı's election poster - his pro-unity message winning over two thirds of the electorate

NEWS/TRNC

Mustafa Akıncı has cruised to a second round victory against incumbent Dr Derviş Eroğlu in today’s Presidential Elections to become the fourth TRNC President since the founding of the Turkish Cypriot republic in 1983.

Both candidates had run as independents, with Akıncı’s pro-Cyprus unity policy courting most favour with the electorate, as he took every district across North Cyprus bar İskele – traditionally an Eroğlu stronghold.

The 67-year-old, who formerly led the Communal Democrat Party (TDP) and served as the Mayor of Lefkoşa, received extensive support from the TRNC’s trade unions and left-wing parties, including the ruling Republican Turkish Party (CTP) whose candidate Dr Sibel Siber was knocked out in the first round. It propelled Akıncı to secure 60.5% of the vote, while political veteran Eroğlu, backed by the National Unity Party (UBP) and junior coalition partner Democrat Party, polled just 39.5%. Aged 77, Eroğlu is now expected to bow out of national politics.

At 64.04%, turnout in today’s second round vote was marginally higher than in the first, although far lower than in previous TRNC elections.

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