National Unity Party comes first in elections in north Cyprus pseudo-state

The National Unity Party (UBP) came first in the elections in the north on Sunday, gaining 36,5% of the vote and securing 21 seats in the “parliament”.

The second place was gained by the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) with 21,8% of the vote (12 seats) and was followed by the People’s Party (HP) with 16,9% (nine seats).

According to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), the Republican Turkish Party lost 17% of its voters compared to the elections in 2013.

During the election that was held on July 28, 2013, Özkan Yorgancıoğlu and his Republican Turkish Party had won by getting 38% of the vote and 21 seats.

UBP leader Huseyin Ozgurgun (pictured) stated on Sunday that the people had given the party a mandate, adding that the UBP’s goal is to achieve an even higher level of prosperity and to ensure the protection of the Turkish-Cypriot people.

Turkish-Cypriot media said that the election participation rate was a mere 62%, with only 118,142 voters casting their ballot out of a total of 190,551.

Although the outcome will not influence the position of the Turkish-Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, who is dealing with the negotiations of the Cyprus issue, the election of a government that is in favour of a federal solution could prove supportive in a resumption of talks.