Tufan Erhürman, leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and a prominent presidential candidate, has reportedly secured a leading position in the Northern Cyprus Presidential Election held today, according to unofficial results. As the internationally unrecognized, breakaway state-entity, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) anticipates its next leader, the new Turkish Cypriot leader, many are asking: Who is Tufan Erhürman, the academic and politician poised to take the helm?
Born in Nicosia in 1970, Tufan Erhürman's journey is a blend of distinguished academic achievement and a robust political career. He completed his secondary education at Türk Maarif Koleji before pursuing higher studies in Ankara, Turkey. He graduated from Ankara University Faculty of Law, where he also completed his master's and doctoral degrees. His doctoral thesis, titled
"İdarenin Yargı Dışı Denetimi ve Ombudsman" (Judicial Review of Administration and the Ombudsman), earned him a doctorate in law. Following his doctoral studies, Erhürman served as a research assistant in the Administrative Law Department at Ankara University. During this period, he also lectured on administrative law, constitutional law, and introduction to law at Hacettepe University and Middle East Technical University. His expertise was recognized when he contributed to the drafting committee for the Public Oversight Institution Law Bill by the Turkish Republic Ministry of Justice, playing a role in establishing the ombudsman system in Turkey.
Erhürman's academic career continued in Northern Cyprus, where he joined the law faculties of Eastern Mediterranean University and Near East University starting in 2001. He also held the position of Assistant Dean at Eastern Mediterranean University. His academic contributions primarily focused on public law, leading to his appointment as an associate professor of law in 2014.
His foray into politics began in 2005 when he was part of the negotiation team for then-President Mehmet Ali Talat. Concurrently, he was involved in the establishment process of the Immovable Property Commission. In 2013, Erhürman was elected as a Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Member of Parliament for Nicosia, entering the Assembly of the Republic. He played a leading role in constitutional amendment efforts that garnered consensus among the four parties in the assembly.
Erhürman's leadership within the CTP ascended rapidly; he was elected Secretary-General of the party in 2015 and then became its Chairman in 2016. In 2018, he assumed the role of Prime Minister of Northern Cyprus within a four-party coalition government, which included the CTP, People's Party (HP), Communal Democracy Party (TDP), and Democratic Party (DP). However, this government resigned in 2019 following the dissolution of the coalition. Since then, he has served as the leader of the main opposition party.
This is not Erhürman's first presidential bid; he previously ran as the CTP's candidate in the 2020 presidential elections. His current leading position in the 2025 elections, as per unofficial results, underscores his enduring political presence and the public's continued trust in his leadership. The official confirmation of results is eagerly awaited as Northern Cyprus looks towards its future leadership under potentially Tufan Erhürman.
Photo: Anadolu Agency