With the results released, supporters gathered to celebrate at the headquarters of the Republican Turkish Party.
In his first statement, Erhürman struck a conciliatory tone, thanking all who took part in the “electoral” process regardless of how they voted and emphasizing unity. “Our people should know the following: This election has no loser. As the Turkish Cypriot people, we all won together,” he said. He reiterated his campaign pledge: “We said we would walk together, win together and govern together. We kept our first two promises. We will keep our third promise together.”
Erhürman expressed gratitude to members of the Republican Turkish Party, partners from the Communal Democracy Party (TDP), independent “MPs” who supported him, and, personally, Serdar Denktaş. He noted that he received votes from supporters of other parties, framing the outcome as a mandate for broader consensus.
Pledging full impartiality, Erhürman symbolically announced he is stepping down as party leader. “From this moment, I am no longer the President of the Republican Turkish Party. I give my word that I will be the president of all our citizens with absolute impartiality,” he said. He invited all Turkish Cypriots to a joint celebration “to celebrate our brotherhood together,” and affirmed that he will carry out his duties, especially in foreign policy, in close consultation with Ankara.
Congratulatory Message from the Greek Cypriot Leader
The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, has expressed his anticipation for a meeting with the new leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, Tufan Erhurman, as soon as possible. President Christodoulides conveyed this sentiment in a congratulatory message following the announcement of the election results in the occupied territories.
Referring to upcoming developments, the Greek Cypriot leader described the forthcoming informal, expanded meeting announced by the Secretary-General as "a critical opportunity to restart the process."
Christodoulides underlined the framework upon which the solution to the Cyprus problem must be based. This framework, he stated, is defined by "the resolutions of the United Nations, the decisions of the Security Council, and the principles and values of the European Union, of which the Republic of Cyprus is and will continue to be a member state."
Photo: Bianet