Main Headlines

• UBP largest party, but unable to form majority alone

• Lowest ever national election turnout of just 57% recorded

• TDP leader Cemal Özyiğit resigns as his party fail to enter parliament

 

Live Thread

• 08:20 – That’s all, folks!

With the official results announced, there’s nothing left for me to tell you. Thank you for staying with me, and I will see you at the next one

 

• 08:18 – OFFICIAL RESULTS – NATIONAL

Here are the official national results

UBP – 39.54% – 24 seats (+3)

CTP – 32.04% – 18 seats (+6)

DP – 7.41% – 3 seats (=)

HP – 6.68% – 3 seats (-6)

YDP – 6.39% – 2 seats (=)

TDP – 4.34% – 0 seats (-3)

BY – 1.96% – 0 seats (new)

TKP-YG – 1.54% – 0 seats (=)

 

• 08:13 – OFFICIAL RESULTS – LEFKA / LEFKE

Here are the official results for the Lefka / Lefke district

UBP – 39.87% – 1 seat

CTP – 32.03% – 1 seat

DP – 7.22% – 0 seats

HP – 6.78% – 0 seats

YDP – 6.36% – 0 seats

TDP – 4.31% – 0 seats

BY – 1.94% – 0 seats

TKP-YG – 1.49% – 0 seats

 

• 08:11 – OFFICIAL RESULTS – MORPHOU / GÜZELYURT

Here are the official results for the Morphou / Güzelyurt district

UBP – 40.18% – 2 seats

CTP – 32.08% – 1 seat

DP – 7.26% – 0 seats

HP – 6.45% – 0 seats

YDP – 6.41% – 0 seats

TDP – 4.25% – 0 seats

BY – 1.88% – 0 seats

TKP-YG – 1.49% – 0 seats

 

• 08:08 – OFFICIAL RESULTS – TRIKOMO / İSKELE

Here are the official results for the Trikomo / İskele district

UBP – 39.79% – 3 seats

CTP – 32.13% – 2 seats

DP – 7.36% – 0 seats

HP – 6.56% – 0 seats

YDP – 6.37% – 0 seats

TDP – 4.34% – 0 seats

BY – 1.92% – 0 seats

TKP-YG – 1.49% – 0 seats

 

• 08:05 – OFFICIAL RESULTS – KYRENIA / GİRNE

Here are the official results for the Kyenia / Girne district

UBP – 39.51% – 5 seats

CTP – 31.93% – 4 seats

DP – 7.41% – 1 seat

HP – 6.74% – 1 seat

YDP – 6.42% – 0 seats

TDP – 4.53% – 0 seats

BY – 1.92% – 0 seats

TKP-YG – 1.53% – 0 seats

 

• 08:03 – OFFICIAL RESULTS – FAMAGUSTA / GAZİMAĞUSA

Here are the official results for the Famagusta / Gazimağusa district

UBP – 39.52% – 6 seats

CTP – 31.99% – 4 seats

DP – 7.49% – 1 seat

HP – 6.67% – 1 seat

YDP – 6.42% – 1 seat

TDP – 4.39% – 0 seats

BY – 1.95% – 0 seats

TKP-YG – 1.54% – 0 seats

 

• 08:00 – OFFICIAL RESULTS – NICOSIA / LEFKOŞA

Here are the official results for the Nicosia / Lefkoşa district

UBP – 39.34% – 7 seats

CTP – 32.10% – 6 seats

DP – 7.40% – 1 seat

HP – 6.72% – 1 seat

YDP – 6.36% – 1 seat

TDP – 4.45% – 0 seats

BY – 2.02% – 0 seats

TKP-YG – 1.59% – 0 seats

 

• 07:56 – Good morning (again)!

It is Monday, I am rested, and we have official results. I’ll write them constituency by constituency, with the national totals at the end.

 

• 00:15 – THIS IS NOT YET OVER

This thread will not be updated for a few hours, but I will return in the morning and keep updating this until the exact numbers of seats each party has won has been officially announced. Until then, however, goodnight…

 

• 23:43 – UPDATED RESULTS (745/763 ballot boxes opened so far)

Source number two has pulled ahead once more, and I want to give you the clearest picture possible before I sign off for the night. After 745 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

UBP – 40.46%

CTP – 32.03%

DP – 7.38%

YDP – 6.74%

HP – 6.29%

TDP – 3.91%

BY – 1.68%

TKP-YG – 1.51%

 

• 23:18 – Faiz Sucuoğlu is making a speech

UBP leaders do have a tendency to go on a bit, and he’s been speaking for at least a quarter of an hour at this point. So far he’s talked about how the country is facing its “biggest crisis since 1974”, said that power cuts “have nothing to do with us”, predicted his party to win 25 or 26 seats, called UBP “the party of difficult times”, and said “we will make our people feel economic transformation within 8-10 months”. Watch this space…

 

• 23:12 – UPDATED RESULTS (668/763 ballot boxes opened so far)

Back to my first source, now, which is at long last once again giving me updates. After 668 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

UBP – 40.50%

CTP – 33.06%

DP – 6.99%

HP – 6.41%

YDP – 6.01%

TDP – 4.07%

BY – 1.59%

TKP-YG – 1.37%

 

• 23:01 – Cemal Özyiğit resigns

With tonight’s result looking disastrous for TDP, leader Cemal Özyiğit has resigned. This could be the first time in any Turkish Cypriot election that TDP (or any of its ancestor parties) has not been elected to parliament.

 

• 22:56 – The music starts in Sarayönü, but no one is dancing

UBP have started playing music out of their headquarters at Sarayönü, but the mood of their supporters who have gathered here is tempered by the fact that they haven’t achieved what they wanted to. A majority looks unlikely, and everyone feels rather “meh” about the result. The atmosphere here is nothing like October 2020.

 

• 22:53 – Kudret Özersay makes a statement

With HP suffering a heavy but albeit expected loss of vote share and seats, Kudret Özersay spoke to reporters. He said “It seems that UBP and CTP, who have bases which they always carry, were able to achieve more successful results because of the serious decrease in turnout”. He went on to speak of a “hopelessness in society” due to the economic difficulties experienced by many, and said that “the fact that UBP can get this vote is thought-provoking given the general conditions in our country”.

 

• 22:39 – Arıklı pleased with results

YDP leader Erhan Arıklı spoke to reporters, saying “despite the problems we faced and the games others played with YDP, we have increased our number of seats by holding our vote share”. He went on to speak of how certain people had “betrayed” his party.

• 22:04 – Fikri Ataoğlu makes a statement

Fikri Ataoğlu, leader of DP, has said in reaction to the results coming through that “this is not the number of votes we expected”. He also made reference to the pandemic and the low turnout rate.

 

• 22:01 – Tufan Erhürman speaks to the press

CTP leader Tufan Erhürman has spoken to reporters at his party’s headquarters in Arabahmet, Nicosia. He said that we now know more or less what the election results will be, and that his party will be the main opposition in parliament. He also pointed out that CTP will see the largest increase in vote share and number of seats of any party.

 

• 21:45 – UPDATED RESULTS (659/763 ballot boxes opened so far)

My original source of results stopped giving, so I’ve switched horses. This second source has the parties on the right doing much better than the first, but many other outlets here are publishing results similar to this one. After 659 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

UBP – 40.73%

CTP – 31.54%

DP – 7.51%

YDP – 6.93%

HP – 6.19%

TDP – 3.93%

BY – 1.64%

TKP-YG – 1.53%

 

• 21:05 – UPDATED RESULTS (510/763 ballot boxes opened so far)

We march past the 500 mark. After 510 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

UBP – 39.63%

CTP – 33.84%

DP – 6.85%

HP – 6.66%

YDP – 5.64%

TDP – 4.36%

BY – 1.63%

TKP-YG – 1.39%

 

• 20:54 – UPDATED RESULTS (494/763 ballot boxes opened so far)

After 494 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

UBP – 39.67%

CTP – 33.78%

DP – 6.85%

HP – 6.66%

YDP – 5.53%

TDP – 4.40%

BY – 1.62%

TKP-YG – 1.39%

 

• 20:52 – UPDATED RESULTS (489/763 ballot boxes opened so far)

After 489 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

UBP – 39.62%

CTP – 33.80%

DP – 6.85%

HP – 6.70%

YDP – 5.57%

TDP – 4.43%

BY – 1.63%

TKP-YG – 1.40%

 

• 20:42 – UPDATED RESULTS (469/763 ballot boxes opened so far)

Nice. After 469 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

UBP – 39.37%

CTP – 33.87%

DP – 6.88%

HP – 6.71%

YDP – 5.60%

TDP – 4.52%

BY – 1.66%

TKP-YG – 1.39%

 

• 20:34 – UPDATED RESULTS (454/763 ballot boxes opened so far)

After 454 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

UBP – 39.46%

CTP – 33.75%

DP – 6.94%

HP – 6.77%

YDP – 5.61%

TDP – 4.45%

BY – 1.65%

TKP-YG – 1.37%

 

• 20:32 – TDP General Secretary: “TDP is not in a good place”

TDP General Secretary Halil Hızal has just spoken to television channel Kanal Sim about his party’s election result so far. He said “According to the results, it is certain that TDP is not in a good place. It’s a disappointment for the party”. He went on to call the election a “failure”, and said “the current [party] administration, including me, has failed. The resignation mechanism should work”.

 

• 20:27 – UPDATED RESULTS (419/763 ballot boxes opened so far)

After 419 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

UBP – 39.46%

CTP – 33.46%

DP – 6.96%

HP – 6.79%

YDP – 5.66%

TDP – 4.56%

BY – 1.73%

TKP-YG – 1.38%

 

• 20:20 – UPDATED RESULTS (409/763 ballot boxes opened so far)

The 400-box-barrier is broken, and CTP’s slide goes on. After 409 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

UBP – 39.42%

CTP – 33.45%

DP – 6.93%

HP – 6.76%

YDP – 5.71%

TDP – 4.60%

BY – 1.75%

TKP-YG – 1.38%

 

• 20:17 – Distribution of seats (updated prediction)

With YDP breaking the 5% barrier, here is what the allocation of seats in parliament could look like according to my calculations.

UBP – ~22

CTP – ~19

HP – ~3

DP – ~3

YDP – ~3

TDP – 0

BY – 0

TKP-YG – 0

 

• 20:07 – UPDATED RESULTS (379/763 ballot boxes opened so far)

Almost at the halfway point, and CTP’s share continues to slip. After 379 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

UBP – 39.42%

CTP – 33.65%

DP – 6.80%

HP – 6.71%

YDP – 5.54%

TDP – 4.71%

BY – 1.84%

TKP-YG – 1.38%

 

• 20:01 – UPDATED RESULTS (354/763 ballot boxes opened so far)

After 354 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

UBP – 39.26%

CTP – 33.68%

DP – 6.85%

HP – 6.77%

YDP – 5.42%

TDP – 4.80%

BY – 1.84%

TKP-YG – 1.38%

 

• 19:57 – UPDATED RESULTS (328/763 ballot boxes opened so far)

UBP pull away from CTP, and YDP break 5% for the first time. After 328 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

UBP – 39.20%

CTP – 33.97%

HP – 6.79%

DP – 6.73%

YDP – 5.28%

TDP – 4.86%

BY – 1.80%

TKP-YG – 1.37%

 

• 19:53 – UPDATED RESULTS (300/763 ballot boxes opened so far)

We reach the big 300. After 300 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

UBP – 38.90%

CTP – 34.59%

HP – 6.75%

DP – 6.68%

TDP – 4.96%

YDP – 4.93%

BY – 1.81%

TKP-YG – 1.38%

 

• 19:50 – UPDATED RESULTS (274/763 ballot boxes opened so far)

After 274 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

UBP – 38.55%

CTP – 34.92%

HP – 6.78%

DP – 6.72%

YDP – 4.93%

TDP – 4.88%

BY – 1.82%

TKP-YG – 1.40%

 

• 19:44 – UPDATED RESULTS (263/763 ballot boxes opened so far)

After 263 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

UBP – 38.55%

CTP – 35.00%

HP – 6.82%

DP – 6.70%

TDP – 4.93%

YDP – 4.80%

BY – 1.82%

TKP-YG – 1.38%

 

• 19:40 – TDP and YDP in serious danger

We’re almost a third of the way through the count and both TDP and YDP are stuck below the all-important 5% mark. Could one or both of them not make it into parliament at all?

 

• 19:37 – UPDATED RESULTS (232/763 ballot boxes opened so far)

After 232 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

UBP – 38.71%

CTP – 35.22%

HP – 6.81%

DP – 6.42%

YDP – 4.89%

TDP – 4.68%

BY – 1.88%

TKP-YG – 1.39%

 

• 19:35 – UPDATED RESULTS (201/763 ballot boxes opened so far)

We pass the 200 mark. After 201 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

UBP – 38.61%

CTP – 36.14%

HP – 6.63%

DP – 6.32%

TDP – 4.81%

YDP – 4.23%

BY – 1.86%

TKP-YG – 1.42%

 

• 19:33 – Distribution of seats

As I mentioned this morning, the seats are allocated via proportional representation within six constituencies. Each party needs at least 5% of the national vote share in order to enter parliament. Based off the results we have so far, the allocation of seats could look something like this:

UBP – ~23

CTP – ~21

HP – ~3

DP – ~3

TDP – 0

YDP – 0

BY – 0

TKP-YG – 0

 

• 19:29 – UPDATED RESULTS (183/763 ballot boxes opened so far)

After 183 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

UBP – 38.63%

CTP – 36.28%

HP – 6.58%

DP – 6.26%

TDP – 4.67%

YDP – 4.30%

BY – 1.86%

TKP-YG – 1.42%

 

• 19:26 – UPDATED RESULTS (177/763 ballot boxes opened so far)

After 177 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

UBP – 38.71%

CTP – 36.29%

HP – 6.58%

DP – 6.18%

YDP – 4.65%

TDP – 4.65%

BY – 1.80%

TKP-YG – 1.42%

 

• 19:22 – UPDATED RESULTS (153/763 ballot boxes opened so far)

They’re coming thick and fast. After 153 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

UBP – 38.71%

CTP – 35.95%

HP – 6.54%

DP – 6.38%

YDP – 4.61%

TDP – 4.59%

BY – 1.80%

TKP-YG – 1.42%

• 19:16 – FIRST RESULTS (132/763 ballot boxes opened so far)

Away we go! After 132 ballot boxes have been opened and counted, the results are as such:

UBP – 38.65%

CTP – 36.35%

DP – 6.44

HP – 6.14%

YDP – 4.77%

TDP – 4.57%

BY – 1.76%

TKP-YG – 1.32%

• 18:46 – You’re probably wondering…

What happened to that massive turnout figure we saw in Trikomo / İskele at half past three? I am assuming someone got their maths quite a bit wrong at the time. The new number makes much more sense.

 

• 18:27 – Final turnout reports

The Supreme Election Council have published these turnout figures for this election.

Lefkoşa / Nicosia District – 57.78%

Gazimağusa / Famagusta District – 52.87%

Girne / Kyrenia District – 50.10%

Güzelyurt / Morphou District – 54.91%

İskele / Trikomo District – 59.29%

Lefke / Lefka District – 57.58%

Nationwide: 55.43%

National turnout in 2018 was 66.10%. This is the lowest ever turnout for a Turkish Cypriot national election.

 

• 18:18 – Updated turnout reports

The Supreme Election Council have confirmed that as of 17:30, national turnout was 55.43%. National turnout in 2018 was 66.10%, and this year’s final turnout figure will likely be lower than that.

 

• 18:00 – POLLS ARE CLOSED

Ten hours’ voting are over, and the Turkish Cypriot people have decided who will be their representatives in the next parliament. All that remains now is to see who they have chosen…

 

• 16:42 – How common is common sense?

I have spent all day sat next to a door. That door only opens outwards, and it is the only door of this coffee shop. However, I have watched people try to yank it inwards, open multiple windows to try to get out of them, and even try to pull the keyhole, despite having used the same door to get in.

 

• 17:00 – ONE HOUR TO GO

Yet another election has almost reached its conclusion. There are just sixty minutes left for the Turkish Cypriot electorate to vote for their representatives.

 

• 16:32 – Criminal activity

Earlier today, four people were arrested having attempted to take photographs of their ballot papers. This is an illegal act, as it has been rumoured in the past that certain individuals make payments to other people in order to go and vote, and vote a certain way, with photographs of ballot papers used as evidence to receive payment.

 

• 16:19 – Updated turnout reports

The Supreme Election Council have published these turnout figures as of 15:30

Lefkoşa / Nicosia District – 37.34%

Gazimağusa / Famagusta District – 38.80%

Girne / Kyrenia District – 40.60%

Güzelyurt / Morphou District – 40.60%

İskele / Trikomo District – 65.10%

Lefke / Lefka District – 39.30%

National turnout in 2018 was 66.10%

 

• 16:00 – TWO HOURS TO GO

Time really is going as fast as the wind today. The Turkish Cypriot electorate has just two hours left to cast its votes for the next parliament.

 

• 14:22 – Sit rep

It’s reasonably busy here at Sarayönü, and freezing cold outside, but the hectic-ness of election afternoon is yet to begin. I’m sure it won’t take too long…

 

• 13:14 – President Ersin Tatar has voted

The last of the big names in Turkish Cypriot politics to cast his vote was incumbent President Ersin Tatar, who voted at the Şehit Tuncer primary school in the Nicosia suburb of Köşklüçiftlik. Speaking to reporters after having cast his vote, he said “Despite the Covid conditions, the Turkish Cypriot people have put up a great fight. I say to our people that this is a very important election. Let them vote”.

 

• 13:03 – Turnout reports

The Supreme Election Council have published these turnout figures as of 11:30

Lefkoşa / Nicosia District – 13.8%

Gazimağusa / Famagusta District – 13.2%

Girne / Kyrenia District – 11.6%

Güzelyurt / Morphou District – 12.6%

İskele / Trikomo District – 16.6%

Lefke / Lefka District – 12.9%

National turnout in 2018 was 66.1%

 

• 12:52 – Mehmet Ali Talat has voted

Mehmet Ali Talat became the final former President to visit the ballot box, casting his vote at the 19th May college in Kyrenia.

 

• 12:33 – Erhan Arıklı has cast his vote

The final current party leader to vote today was YDP’s Erhan Arıklı, who voted at the 9th September primary school in the suburb of Ortaköy in Nicosia. After having voted, he criticised the decision to hold an election this winter in the “peak period of the pandemic”, saying “about 6,000 people are stuck at home wearing wristbands, watching this election on TV”.

 

• 12:30 – Mehmet Çakıcı has voted

TKP-YG leader Mehmet Çakıcı has cast his vote at the Şehit Hüseyin middle school in the Nicosia suburb of Yenişehir. He spoke of how his party had held those in power accountable throughout the campaign, and felt that he was “doing [his] duty by telling the truth to the Turkish Cypriot people”.

 

• 12:17 – Derviş Eroğlu is at the polling station

Hot on the heels of his successor as President, oldest-living former President Derviş Eroğlu has arrived at the Polatpaşa primary school in Famagusta to cast his vote.

 

• 12:06 – Mustafa Akıncı has voted

Former President Mustafa Akıncı, who left front-line politics after losing the 2020 Presidential election, has cast his vote at the Şehit Ertuğrul primary school in Nicosia.

 

• 11:52 – Cemal Özyiğit has cast his vote

TDP leader Cemal Özyiğit has become the sixth party leader this morning to go to the ballot box, at the 9th September primary school in the Nicosia suburb of Ortaköy. After casting his vote, he said “Our people have listened to everyone. Now they will speak … Our expectation is that our people will go to the polls together and reflect that their free will will be reflected”.

 

• 11:24 – Tufan Erhürman has voted

CTP leader Tufan Erhürman has cast his vote at the Gönyeli primary school, on the outskirts of Nicosia. Erhürman, who became a father for the first time last year, told reporters “We are voting for our children, for our future”. He went on to say “I believe that a bright future awaits us after the election”, and called the act of voting “a requirement of this democracy”, urging people to vote.

 

• 11:20 – The mad midday is here

As more and more newsworthy ballots are cast – CTP leader Tufan Erhürman and TDP leader Cemal Özyiğit are currently at polling stations – journalists and cameras are gathering at the windy Sarayönü sqare, with plastic chairs now being blown across the scene.

 

• 11:04 – Münür Rahvancıoğlu has cast his vote

With his party taking part in its first election, BY leader Münür Rahvancıoğlu has voted at the Alayköy primary school, in the Nicosia district. After having voted, he told reporters “I hope that this struggle will continue to grow”.

 

• 10:58 – Kudret Özersay has voted

Kudret Özersay, leading HP into its second election, cast his vote at the Beylerbeyi pre-school in the Kyrenia district. “Let’s express our will at the ballot box so that the people will win. Let us show our will at the ballot box in order to put an end to these difficult days”, he told reporters.

 

• 10:29 – Faiz Sucuoğlu has cast his vote

UBP leader and Prime Minister going into this election Faiz Sucuoğlu has voted at the Şehit Tunçer primary school in Nicosia. Outside the polling stations, he told reporters “UBP will finish ahead by a long way. Judging by the interest shown, we are the party with the highest probability of entering government alone. The important thing is the votes of the citizens. We respect every result that will come out of the ballot box”.

 

• 10:27 – Fikri Ataoğlu has voted

DP leader Fikri Ataoğlu has cast his vote at the Namık Kemal high school in Famagusta. Outside the polling station, he told reporters “My wish is that the promises made during the campaign do not vanish into thin air”. He went on to express his hopes for a long-term government model to be established.

 

• 10:19 – Party leaders have begun arriving at polling stations

UBP leader Faiz Sucuoğlu and DP leader Fikri Ataoğlu have both arrived at their local polling stations in order to vote. More to follow…

 

• 10:07 – Blowing a hooley

The wind has really gotten up here in Nicosia, and seat cushions from outside the coffee shop have been sent flying in all directions down the side roads off Sarayönü square. The local cats do not look impressed at this weather, the coffee shop workers even less so.

 

• 09:41 – Party leaders voting

As you would expect, every party leader is expected to vote, and after having voted, they usually say a few words to the press outside their local polling station. It makes for a busy time for the hacks, as they all tend to go and vote around the same time in the mid-to-late morning. With eight party leaders and at least two Presidents expected to vote today, I might have steam coming out of my laptop at some point…

• 09:00 – Sheltering from the weather

I have arrived in Sarayönü, where the election “lives”, but I have elected to take a seat inside a coffee shop on the square rather than outside, as it is colder than I have ever known it in Cyprus this week. There’s no danger of me falling asleep despite the early morning, either, as the music in here is on at full volume.

 

• 08:35 – The parties (final part)

– Halkın Partisi / People’s Party (HP)

Leader: Kudret Özersay (b. 1973, Larnaka)

Founded: 2016

Ideology: Centrism

2018 result: 17.1%, 9 seats

– Toplumcu Demokrasi Partisi / Social Democratic Party (TDP)

Leader: Cemal Özyiğit (b. 1960, Dağyolu (Girne/Kyenia))

Founded: 2016

Ideology: Social Democracy, “Cypriotism”

2018 result: 8.65%, 3 seats

 

• 08:30 – The parties (part 3)

– Bağımsızlık Yolu / Independence Road (BY)

Leader: Münür Rahvancıoğlu (b. 1977, Nicosia)

Founded: 2018

Ideology: Socialism

2018 result: N/A

– Yeniden Doğuş Partisi / Rebirth Party (YDP)

Leader: Erhan Arıklı (b. 1962, Ardahan, Turkey)

Founded: 2016

Ideology: Conservatism, Turkish ultra-nationalism

2018 result: 6.99%, 2 seats

 

• 08:25 – The parties (part 2)

– Demokrat Parti / Democratic Party (DP)

Leader: Fikri Ataoğlu (b. 1964, Avtepe (İskele/Trikomo))

Founded: 1992

Ideology: Conservatism

2018 result: 7.82%, 3 seats

– Toplumcu Kurtuluş Partisi – Yeni Güçler / Social Liberation Party – New Forces (TKP-YG)

Leader: Mehmet Çakıcı (b. 1964, Nicosia)

Founded: 2016

Ideology: Social democracy

2018: 2.67%, 0 seats

 

• 08:20 – The parties, then…

I’ll now give you a short “fact file” of each party, going by the order which they appear on the ballot paper, going two at a time so this doesn’t end up too long.

– Ulusal Birlik Partisi / National Unity Party (UBP)

Leader: Faiz Sucuoğlu (b. 1961, Polis Chrysochous)

Founded: 1975

Ideology: Conservatism, Turkish nationalism

2018 result: 35.6%, 21 seats

– Cumhuriyetçi Türk Partisi / Republican Turkish Party (CTP)

Leader: Tufan Erhürman (b. 1970, Nicosia)

Founded: 1970

Ideology: Social democracy

2018 result: 20.9%, 12 seats

 

• 08:00 – POLLS ARE OPEN

After weeks of campaigning, the election itself is now underway. The polls will remain open until 6 o’clock.

 

• 07:58 – The parties

I will talk about the parties once the polls are open, and that is just about to happen…

 

• 07:50 – The rules…

There are a total of 50 seats up for grabs today, running in six different constituencies. Each constituency has a different number of seats, based on its population, and representatives are elected using proportional representation. The constituencies are:

Lefkoşa / Nicosia : 16 seats

Gazimağusa / Famagusta : 13 seats

Girne / Kyrenia : 11 seats 

İskele / Trikomo : 5 seats 

Güzelyurt / Morphou : 3 seats

Lefke / Lefka : 2 seats

There are a total of 203,792 registered voters, and 763 ballot boxes. Oh, and the sale of alcohol is prohibited until the polls close at 6 o’clock this evening.

 

• 07:33 – Good morning!

It’s a cold but sunny morning here in Nicosia. I will be here giving you live updates of the goings on of this year’s election for as long as there are goings on. There are no other journalists here, yet – you truly do not get service like this anywhere else.