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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulated Tufan Erhurman on Sunday after the opposition leader secured a landslide victory in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus presidential election, pledging continued support for the breakaway state's interests.
Erhurman, leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), won 62.76% of the vote according to unofficial results from the TRNC Supreme Election Council, decisively defeating incumbent President Ersin Tatar, an independent candidate who received 35.81%.
"This election once again demonstrated the TRNC's democratic maturity and reflected the will of our Turkish Cypriot brothers at the ballot box," Erdogan wrote on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal. "Türkiye will continue to defend the TRNC's sovereign rights and interests, together with the Turkish Cypriot people, on every platform."
The Turkish president said he hoped the vote would be beneficial for both countries and the broader region.
Özgür Özel, leader of Türkiye's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), offered pointed congratulations to Erhurman, calling him "a very dear friend" and leader of a "sister party."
In a statement on social media platform X, Özel suggested Turkish Cypriot voters had delivered a message beyond simply choosing a new president.
"The Turkish Cypriot people in this election not only elected Mr. Erhurman, but also gave their answer to TRNC democracy and national will, to the mentality that interferes from outside for their own interests, and that conducts propaganda for the candidate they support," Özel wrote.
He added sharp criticism of unnamed officials in Ankara, saying some had "resorted to all kinds of black propaganda" to help their preferred candidate win, disregarding both Türkiye's foreign policy experience and the rule of law. Özel said he hoped such figures had "understood the message of the Turkish Cypriot" correctly.
The CHP leader praised Erhurman's "cool-headed, constructive language" regarding relations with the Turkish state, adding: "I share everyone's hope and happiness in the TRNC, which will wake up to a beautiful and brand new day tomorrow."
Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz said the election reaffirmed the political maturity of the TRNC and its citizens. "The elections have once again shown the maturity of the TRNC as both a state and an electorate," Yilmaz said. "As the motherland and guarantor country, we will continue to stand firmly by the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriot people."
The Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a separate statement congratulating Erhurman, saying Türkiye, as the "motherland and guarantor," would continue contributing to efforts to ensure the welfare and development of the Turkish Cypriot people "within the framework of its responsibilities."
Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus extended congratulations to Erhurman, expressing hope that the election results would bring positive outcomes for the TRNC, Türkiye, and the wider Turkic world.
Communications Director Burhanettin Duran praised the peaceful conduct of the election as "a strong indicator of the maturity of Turkish Cypriot democracy."
Speaking after the election results were announced, Erhurman emphasized that foreign policy decisions concerning Cyprus would require consultation with Türkiye.
"A foreign policy for Cyprus or any position on the Cyprus issue will never be determined without consultation with Türkiye during my term," he said.
Erhurman added that relations between the TRNC and Türkiye "will continue to grow stronger," calling it "a mission" of his leadership.
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