You watch the documentary in the above player or in TLF TV’s YouTube page
The TLF TV’s new short documentary, based on the latest special analysis of the Levant Files, examines the critical upcoming Turkish Cypriot elections, set against the backdrop of Turkey's deepening authoritarianism and severe economic crisis. The article draws a stark parallel between Turkey’s proposed “11th Judicial Package”—which severely penalizes LGBTQI+ expression—and the systematic marginalization codified in the Nuremberg Laws. This context of political repression and economic instability in Turkey directly impacts the Turkish Cypriot community, which is tied to Ankara politically and through the volatile Turkish Lira.
The election presents a fundamental choice. It pits incumbent Ersin Tatar, whose vision for a two-state solution aligns with Ankara's nationalist and conservative agenda, against Tufan Erhürman, who advocates for a UN-based federal solution and a secular, European-oriented future. Consequently, the vote is a pivotal referendum on Turkish Cypriot identity: a future tethered to an increasingly authoritarian Turkey or one oriented towards liberal European values. The outcome will not only shape the future of the Cyprus settlement but will also serve as a crucial barometer for the struggle between democratic values and authoritarian influence in the Eastern Mediterranean.