Turkish Cypriots vote in pivotal presidential election that could revive peace talks

Polls show nationalist incumbent Tatar and leftwing challenger Erhürman locked in tight race in Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus election

Voters in Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus have been casting ballots in a presidential poll seen as pivotal to determining whether peace talks on the divided Mediterranean island can be revived.

In an election watched closely by the international community, the 218,000-strong Turkish Cypriot electorate has a choice: to either support the nationalist incumbent, Ersin Tatar, who advocates a two-state solution to the complex Cyprus problem, and further integration with Turkey, or the leftwing veteran, Tufan Erhürman, who backs a return to UN-brokered peace talks.

Tatar’s approach would see further integration with Turkey, the only country to recognise the breakaway state; Erhürman’s would raise hopes of Greek and Turkish Cypriots uniting in a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation.

“It’s a crucial election,” the former euro MP Niyazi Kizilyürek told the Guardian on Sunday.