Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, a pro-reunification moderate, and Ankara-backed Prime Minister Ersin Tatar keep campaigning ahead of Sunday’s runoff vote following last week’s presidential election in the breakaway ‘state’ in northern Cyprus.
At the same time, centre-left candidate Tufan Erhurman who trailed in third place and appears to be the kingmaker, is set to announce his party’s decision later on Tuesday.
Final results have Tatar receiving 32.35 per cent of the vote against Akinci’s 29.84 per cent. Erhurman got 22.04 per cent of the vote.
Sunday’s winner will be tasked with overcoming Turkish Cypriots’ deep political chasms with rival Greek Cypriots in order to pave the way for a deal to end 46 years of division in Cyprus.
Cyprus is divided following an invasion in the summer of 1974 by Turkey which keeps stirring tensions over offshore energy reserves.
