The moment of truth has arrived for the first round of the illegal elections in the occupied territories. The polls closed at 18:00, with results expected about two hours later, according to estimates. A total of 777 ballot boxes were set up, and the counting of votes is being done electronically.
The final number of “voters” is 218,313, and there were 7 candidates. These are Osman Zorba (Cyprus Socialist Party), Tufan Erhürman (Republican Turkish Party), Arif Salih Kırdag (Independent), Ahmet Boran (Independent), Mehmet Hasgüler (Independent), İbrahim Yazıcı (Independent), and Ersin Tatar (Independent). The “independent candidate” Hüseyin Gürlek announced yesterday, Saturday, that he was withdrawing his “candidacy.”
19:07 – What the first unofficial results show the counting is underway in the occupied territories, with the first results of the illegal “elections” giving a clear lead to Tufan Erhürman. Specifically, the “president” of the “supreme electoral committee,” Bertan Özardağ, announced at 18:50 that Mr. Erhürman is gathering 63.58% compared to 35.27% for Ersin Tatar, with the “votes” from 580 out of the total 777 ballot boxes counted. The counting of the “votes” started at 18:00 simultaneously with the closing of the polls.
Based on the count so far, the participation rate was 48.19%. The initial data from the count also show that Mehmet Hasgüler receives 0.23%, Osman Zorba 0.32%, Arif Salih Kırdag 0.34%, Ahmet Boran 0.15%, İbrahim Yazıcı 0.24%, and Hüseyin Gürlek 0.18%.
19:00 – First unofficial indications show Tufan Erhürman leading, with journalists in the occupied territories talking about a landslide victory against Ersin Tatar.
18:35 – First results at 19:00 The so-called “president of the supreme electoral council” stated that the first results would be announced at 19:00. He noted that the full number of “votes” and the final percentages would be known at the end, adding that he could provide updated data every 15-20 minutes.
18:29 – “Legal procedures” against 10 individuals According to the CNA, the “police” announced that up to 16:00, “legal procedures” were initiated against a total of 10 people for violations of the “electoral law.” As stated in the announcement, it was found that six people attempted to photograph the “ballot paper,” one person entered the voting booth with a mobile phone, one person verbally revealed their “vote” after exercising their “right,” and one person photographed the “polling station” area without permission.
18:00 – The polls have closed, according to the schedule, and counting begins.
17:34 – Participation rate up to 16:00 The total participation rate in the illegal elections up to 16:00 reached 53.19%.
17:33 – Turkish Foreign Minister says two states is the only realistic solution “The only realistic solution to the Cyprus issue is two states,” stated Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in a message regarding the electoral process in the occupied territories, according to the CNA. In a post on his social media account, Hakan Fidan states: “We are confident that the elections will once again demonstrate the state tradition and culture of democracy in the trnc [Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus – the pseudo-state].” Stating that “Turkey, the motherland and guarantor country, will continue to defend the just cause of the Turkish Cypriot people,” Mr. Fidan declared: “The only realistic solution to the Cyprus problem lies in the acceptance of the existence of two separate states on the island. We will continue to emphasise this fact in the strongest possible terms on every platform.”
