On October 19, presidential elections will be held in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The favorite candidates in the elections are the current head of state Ersin Tatar and the leader of the opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhürman.
Ersin Tatar is participating in the election as the chairman of the National Unity Party (UBP), and he is also officially supported by the Democratic Party (DP) and the Rebirth Party (YDP). This alliance of the right-wing camp is presented in the press as “Sağduyu Mutabakatı”.
Mehmet Hasgüler and Arif Kırdağ are participating in the elections as independent candidates, while the candidate of the left is Osman Zorba.
Which candidate appears more likely to win?
Gökhan Güler, Special Advisor to the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, stated in his declaration to Modern.az that Ersin Tatar is 1-2 percent ahead in the polls:
"In the reliable poll we conducted, we are approximately 1-2 percent ahead. The election campaign is just beginning. We believe that our President will win this election as well. Tomorrow, or the day after, the difference between us and the opponent will further increase. The election campaign will start within a week. There are 38 days left until the election. In the last 30 days, the indicator will gradually rise further in our favor. When we speak a week from now, the picture will be clearer."
It should be noted that in the first round of elections, candidates must secure an absolute majority, i.e., more than 50 percent of the votes, to win. If the president is not determined in the first round, a second round will be held on October 26. In this case, the two candidates who received the most votes in the first round of elections will participate.
