Main Headlines

• Ersin Tatar elected President with 52% of the vote

• Jubilant celebrations in Sarayönü to hail the new leader

• Tatar: the south should respect our fight for sovereignty

Live Thread

• 21:12 – That’s all, folks!

With votes cast and counted and speeches concluded, all that remains is for me to sign off. Thank you all so much for coming along with me for the ride that was the past two Sundays. Today, so many of you decided to follow our coverage that you actually managed to crash the website multiple times. We can only apologise for the technical problems, but we made the best of it. A final congratulation must go to the newly elected President Ersin Tatar, to his party UBP, and to his campaign. Goodnight, everyone!

• 20:53 – Tatar promises to be conciliatory, and to solve the Cyprus Problem “based on facts”

Newly elected President Ersin Tatar has finished his acceptance speech, and will soon begin work.

He told a partisan crowd at Sarayönü “Our people had the last word, and chose to ‘walk to a new future’. I’d like to express my deepest love, respect, and appreciation for our people. Turkish Cypriots deserve the best and the most beautiful of everything. I will keep every promise I make to them – to act with a unifying and conciliatory understanding. I will work hard for the Turkish Cypriot people to have a high quality of life, a more advanced democracy, and a modern state structure. I will work hard to further move to protect our rights in the eastern Mediterranean. I extend a hand of friendship to the Greek Cypriot people tonight – I am ready to sit at the table, to solve the Cyprus Problem based on facts. I believe that bringing the Cyprus Problem to a conclusion will set an example to our region and to the world”.

• 20:31 – Tatar: “The south should respect our fight for sovereignty”

Speaking at Sarayönü, new President Ersin Tatar said “the Turkish Cypriots are fighters. We are fighting for our independence. We deserve our sovereignty, and the south should respect our fight for sovereignty”. It’s a long speech, there’s more to come.

• 20:11 – Tatar has commenced his acceptance speech

Hot on the heels of his predecessor, Ersin Tatar has arrived at Sarayönü to give his acceptance speech. More to follow…

• 20:08 – Akıncı: “This choice was not made under normal conditions”

Repeating his accusations of interference in the election by Ankara, Akıncı said in his concession speech that “I always said what happened in this election. I will not repeat it. If we said that this was a choice made under normal conditions, we would not be telling the truth”. He also congratulated his successor Ersin Tatar, and confirmed that this would be the end of his political career.

• 20:01 – Akıncı is making a concession speech

Dethroned President Mustafa Akıncı has just commenced his concession speech. I’ll let you know what he says shortly…

• 19:48 – FINAL ELECTION RESULTS

Here they are, then. The final and confirmed results of the 2020 presidential elections.

Ersin Tatar – 51,74% (67.385 votes)

Mustafa Akıncı – 48,26% (62.858 votes)

TOTAL VOTES: 138.423 / TURNOUT: 68,61%

• 19:43 – ERSİN TATAR ELECTED PRESIDENT

The last round of results have now made it mathematically impossible for Mustafa Akıncı to catch Ersin Tatar’s total, and thus Ersin Tatar has been elected President of Northern Cyprus until 2025. Congratulations to him, to UBP, and to his campaign.

• 19:40 – UPDATED RESULTS (722/738 ballot boxes opened so far)

A great showing in the last forty boxes for Tatar. He might be starting to think about what colour to paint the walls of the Presidential Palace now. After 565 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

Ersin Tatar – 51,81% (66.091 votes)

Mustafa Akıncı – 48,19% (61.463 votes)

• 19:36 – UPDATED RESULTS (684/738 ballot boxes opened so far)

After 684 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

Ersin Tatar – 51,86% (62.750 votes)

Mustafa Akıncı – 48,14%% (58.244 votes)

• 19:33 – UPDATED RESULTS (671/738 ballot boxes opened so far)

The Tatar party continues- the result a formality. After 671 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

Ersin Tatar – 51,92%

Mustafa Akıncı – 48,08%

• 19:25 – The party has started in Sarayönü

For the past half an hour Tatar supporters have been gathering in Sarayönü clad in flags. Ersin Tatar’s election song “En Doğru Karar” is playing on repeat, and his supporters are jubilantly singing along.

• 19:09 – UPDATED RESULTS (653/738 ballot boxes opened so far)

It’s all but over now. After 653 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

Ersin Tatar – 51,98%

Mustafa Akıncı – 48,02%

• 19:18 – Technical difficulties at our end…

We’ve been faced with some pretty severe technical problems here today, so the results will be coming to you a bit late. In the meantime, Ersin Tatar has all but won and the party has begun in Sarayönü

• 19:09 – UPDATED RESULTS (618/738 ballot boxes opened so far)

A great showing in the last forty boxes for Tatar. He might be starting to think about what colour to paint the walls of the Presidential Palace now. After 565 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

Ersin Tatar – 51,49%

Mustafa Akıncı – 48,51%

• 19:01 – UPDATED RESULTS (565/738 ballot boxes opened so far)

A great showing in the last forty boxes for Tatar. He might be starting to think about what colour to paint the walls of the Presidential Palace now. After 565 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

Ersin Tatar – 51,49%

Mustafa Akıncı – 48,51%

• 18:57 – UPDATED RESULTS (525/738 ballot boxes opened so far)

Akıncı makes a small inroad but he’s running out of boxes to pull this back. After 525 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

Ersin Tatar – 50,72%

Mustafa Akıncı – 49,28%

• 18:50 – UPDATED RESULTS (413/738 ballot boxes opened so far)

Past halfway and Tatar is edging ahead. After 413 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

Ersin Tatar – 50,97%

Mustafa Akıncı – 49,03%

• 18:44 – UPDATED RESULTS (309/738 ballot boxes opened so far)

It’s ever so slightly in Tatar’s favour at the moment. After 309 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

Ersin Tatar – 50,46%

Mustafa Akıncı – 49,54%

• 18:38 – UPDATED RESULTS (198/738 ballot boxes opened so far)

There is nothing in this. After 198 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

Ersin Tatar – 50,34%

Mustafa Akıncı – 49,66%

• 18:35 – UPDATED RESULTS (156/738 ballot boxes opened so far)

There is nothing in this. After 156 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

Mustafa Akıncı – 50,27%

Ersin Tatar – 49,73%

• 18:30 – UPDATED RESULTS (122/738 ballot boxes opened so far)

It’s moving quickly. After 122 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

Ersin Tatar – 51,21%

Mustafa Akıncı – 48,79%

VOTES COUNTED: 

• 18:22 – FIRST RESULTS (11/738 ballot boxes opened so far)

Aaaaaand we’re off! After 11 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

Mustafa Akıncı – 54,80%

Ersin Tatar – 45,92%

VOTES COUNTED: 1.261

• 18:12 – Is it Ersin’s day?

Reports from around Nicosia are suggesting a higher than expected turnout for Ersin Tatar in the capital. If that’s true, and if it’s replicated elsewhere, Ersin Tatar could well be our winner.

• 18:00 – POLLS ARE CLOSED

That’s it for another five years. The Turkish Cypriot people have made their decision, all that remains is to find out what it is. Results are expected within the next couple of hours.

• 17:31 – No job too small…

A few heads have been turned at Sarayönü as a massive recovery lorry has just driven down Kyrenia Street in order to pick up a very small pink moped that you could probably carry wherever you wanted with your hands. Anyway, back to the politics…

• 17:16 – Turnout reports – Higher turnout than last week, with 2015 numbers under threat

The Supreme Election Council have published these turnout figures as of 17:00

Nicosia District – 61,57%

Famagusta District – 59,05%

Kyrenia District – 56,00%

Güzelyurt (Morphou) District – 59,09%

Yeni İskele (Trikomo) District – 62,00%

Lefke District – 67,59%

Nationwide – 61,03%

National turnout in the second round in 2015 was 64,12%, and in last week’s first round was 57,40%

• 17:00 – ONE HOUR TO GO

Yet again, the day has flown by. There is now less than an hour until polling stations close for the final time in these presidential elections, and votes begin to be counted.

• 16:27 – The weather at Sarayönü is pleasant

Last week I was frozen and roasted in the same day sitting here watching democracy happen, but today there is light cloud and a fair breeze keeping the temperature stable. It’s definitely been a more comfortable experience sitting here today thus far

• 15:38 – Turnout reports

The Supreme Election Council have published these turnout figures as of 15:00

Nicosia District – 45,97%

Famagusta District – 44,04%

Kyrenia District – 42,70%

Güzelyurt (Morphou) District – 46,80%

Yeni İskele (Trikomo) District – 48,35%

Lefke District – 50%

Nationwide – 46,31%

National turnout in the second round in 2015 was 64,12%, and in last week’s first round was 57,40%

• 15:35 – Rumours of a scandal

Eyes have been turning to the Yeniyüzyıl preschool in Nicosia of late, as rumours of large crowds of people outside of the school, which is today being used as a polling station, asking voters which way they were voting and detailing it on lists. The Supreme Election Council have begun an investigation.

• 14:37 – The Sarayönü big screen is on

The large television screen at Sarayönü, which publicly shows election results and victory/concession speeches (among other things) has been turned on. We are one step closer to the results.

• 14:13 – Former President Derviş Eroğlu has voted

Derviş Eroğlu, President from 2010 until 2015, has voted at the Polatpaşa primary school in Famagusta, and given a statement. He told reporters “we want to live in peace and security, and considering that no agreement has been reached in negotiations that have been going on for years, we now want to protect our own state”.

• 13:52 – Technical problems in Sarayönü

The increased volume of people both here and around the country caring about the election isn’t doing many favours to the technological logistics of the day, but we’re managing to carry on well. The last few updates are below

• 13:50 – Turnout reports

The Supreme Election Council have published these turnout figures as of 13:00

Nicosia District – 30,77%

Famagusta District – 29,18%

Kyrenia District – 29,00%

Güzelyurt (Morphou) District – 29,30%

Yeni İskele (Trikomo) District – 30,95%

Lefke District – 31,82%

Nationwide – 30,17%

National turnout in the second round in 2015 was 64,12%, and in last week’s first round was 57,40%

• 13:42 – Tufan Erhürman has voted

CTP leader and former presidential candidate Tufan Erhürman has voted at the Gönyeli primary school, having endorsed Mustafa Akıncı on Tuesday.

• 13:13 – Sunday lunch at the Denktaş’

No need to wonder about Sunday lunchtime at the Denktaş as I’ve just sat down with Rauf over a coffee and Serdar isn’t here. Rauf told me he’s optimistic about today’s results, and indicated he may be interested in starting a political career of his own, though at the moment he’s just looking for governmental stability.

• 12:34 – Turnout reports

The Supreme Election Council have published these turnout figures as of 11:00

Nicosia District – 13,33%

Famagusta District – 12,74%

Kyrenia District – 12,80%

Güzelyurt (Morphou) District – 13,00%

Yeni İskele (Trikomo) District – 14,75%

Lefke District – 14,46%

Nationwide – 13,51%

National turnout in the second round in 2015 was 64,12%, and in last week’s first round was 57,40%

• 12:21 – Tatar: “The important thing is to send a message to the world”

Speaking after having cast his vote, UBP candidate Ersin Tatar said “the important thing is to show our will, and to send a message to the world. We have tried to explain what the right decision is – the important thing now is that that is reflected at the ballot box”.

• 11:50 – Akıncı: “I hope we remember today as a proud day for Turkish Cypriot democracy”

In a statement at his local polling station, Mustafa Akıncı said “I hope we remember this day as a proud day for Turkish Cypriot democracy, when we look back on October 18th 2020. I hope the results will be beneficial for our island and our region”.

• 11:25 – Tatar has arrived to vote

Ersin Tatar is at the Şehit Tuncer primary school in the Köşklüçiftlik district, where he grew up, in order to cast his vote. Statements from both candidates will be available shortly…

• 11:08 – Akıncı has arrived to vote

Incumbent President Mustafa Akıncı has arrived at the Şehit Ertuğrul primary school in Yenişehir in order to cast his vote.

• 09:45 – Sarayönü a bit more lively than a week ago

Despite it not being 10AM yet, there’s already a noticeable difference between now and last week here in Sarayönü. There are more people here than a week ago, and I brought a jacket for the early morning chill, too.

• 08:36 – The story of the week

A week is a long time in politics, and this week is no different. After Sunday night all focus turned onto who (out of the defeated candidates) is endorsing who – Tufan Erhürman’s CTP elected for Akıncı, while Erhan Arıklı’s YDP chose to endorse Tatar. DP also endorsed Tatar, but that provoked the resignation of their defeated presidential candidate Serdar Denktaş. His son Rauf, however, supports Tatar. I bet Sunday lunch at the Denktaş’ will be interesting today…

• 08:00 – POLLS ARE OPEN

So, for one last time, the polls have opened. They will remain so until 6PM (UTC + 3) this evening. Happy voting, everyone!

• 07:43 – Who’s left?

The first round whittled the field of eleven candidates down to two – Ersin Tatar and Mustafa Akıncı. Akıncı is the incumbent President, and vehemently in favour of a federal solution to the Cyprus Problem. Tatar is the Prime Minister, and believes in a “two-state” solution. Both candidates have become quite divisive figures of late, and there is no love lost between the two…

• 07:30 – Good morning!

It’s early, there’s a chill in the air, and I’m sat outside on my laptop. The second round of the presidential elections are almost upon us, and whichever way this goes it is set to be a momentous day for Cyprus.