Ersin Tatar accuses Turkish opposition leader of interference in occupied territories' elections

Former Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar has publicly accused Özgür Özel, leader of Turkey’s New Party (NK) and former head of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), of interfering in the recent electoral process within the occupied territories. According to reports from Star Kıbrıs and the local media, Tatar claimed that Özel actively participated in the campaign supporting Tufan Erhürman, allegedly declaring that Erhürman was his preferred candidate. Tatar questioned the legitimacy of a foreign opposition party head involving himself in local internal affairs, stating that such actions are inappropriate for Turkish political figures.

Tatar asserted that evidence of this interference, including footage and recordings of the CHP delegation, exists, though he did not present concrete documentation during his televised address. Beyond his accusations regarding electoral interference, the former leader reiterated his firm commitment to a two-state solution regarding the Cyprus problem and criticized ongoing criminal prosecutions related to the usurpation of Greek Cypriot properties. The allegations highlight growing political tensions regarding the extent of influence that mainland Turkish political parties exert over the internal governance and electoral outcomes of the Turkish Cypriot community.