Northern Cyprus holds first round of presidential elections

Voting has begun in the first round of the ninth presidential elections in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

According to Anadolu Agency, polling opened at 08:00 local time and will continue until 18:00. Across the country, 777 polling stations are operational.

The total number of registered voters in the TRNC is 218,313. To win outright in the first round, a candidate must secure an absolute majority — over 50% of the votes. If no candidate reaches this threshold, the top two candidates will advance to a runoff, scheduled for one week later. The candidate receiving the most votes in the second round will assume the presidency.

Seven candidates are competing in this first round, five of whom are independents: Osman Zorba (Cyprus Socialist Party), Tufan Erhürman (Republican Turkish Party), Arif Salih Kırdağ (Independent), Ahmet Boran (Independent), Mehmet Hasgüler (Independent), İbrahim Yazıcı (Independent), Hüseyin Gürlek (Independent), and Ersin Tatar (Independent).

On the eve of the election, Hüseyin Gürlek announced that he was withdrawing his candidacy in favour of Ersin Tatar.

By Khagan Isayev