Tufan Erhürman has thrown his name into the Presidential ring. The academic-turned-politician, who heads up the centre-left main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP), announced his candidacy at a CTP rally in Lefkoşa on Tuesday, 17 Dec.

CTP is the first of the TRNC’s six Parliamentary parties to confirm their Presidential candidate.

The incumbent, Mustafa Akıncı, is expected to stand, as are the leaders of the two coalition partners, Ersin Tatar of the UBP, and HP’s Kudret Özersay.

Who is Tufan Erhürman?

Former TRNC Prime Minister Erhürman, 49, has a background in law. Before entering politics, he served at the Ministry of Justice in Turkey, helping to establish the position of ombudsman. He went on to teach public law at Eastern Mediterranean University, from 2001 to 2006.

He has served as part of TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat’s negotiating team, between 2008 and 2010. Talat announced his protégé’s candidacy with a glowing reference at the CTP rally on Tuesday night.

Erhürman headed a four-way coalition as Prime Minister from January 2018 until the government’s collapse in May 2019.

He supports a federal solution for Cyprus.

TRNC Presidential Elections 2020

The TRNC Presidential Election is held every five years and is next scheduled to take place in April 2020. The outcome could determine whether the long-discussed bi-zonal, bi-communal federal solution remains on the negotiating table, or is dropped by the Turkish Cypriots.

CTP, like other left-wing Turkish Cypriot parties, is committed to a federal settlement. Parties right of centre argue that after 40 years of failed discussions with the Greek Cypriots, it is time to explore other types of solutions for Cyprus, which has been divided since 1974.