Harsh reaction from Tufan Erhürman's party to Devlet Bahçeli

The Republican Turkish Party (CTP) responded to the statements made by Devlet Bahçeli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), following the election of Tufan Erhürman as President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

"Any political discourse that trivializes the will of the Turkish Cypriot people is unacceptable to us," the party said in a statement.

The statement, which directly responded to the MHP leader by naming Bahçeli, said, "The statements of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahçeli regarding the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus being the '82nd province' of Türkiye are completely contrary to the will of the Turkish Cypriot people, their political equality, and the realities of international law. It is unacceptable."

CTP's full statement is as follows:

"The Turkish Cypriot people once again strongly exercised their right to determine their own future in the 2025 Presidential elections and reflected their democratic will at the ballot box.

According to official election results, CTP Chairman Tufan Erhürman was elected the new President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus with 62.76% of the vote. This result clearly expresses our people's demand for change, a foreseeable future, a spirit of brotherhood, solutions, and shared wisdom.

As the Republican Turkish Party, we thank all our citizens who contributed to this process and demonstrated their democratic will by voting. Respecting the will of the people and embracing the message of the ballot box are principles that everyone should heed.

It is our common responsibility to protect our democratic maturity and not allow statements that would damage the trust and relations of our people.

In this context, the statements of Devlet Bahçeli, Chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), a political party of the Republic of Turkey, regarding the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus becoming the '82nd province' of Türkiye are completely contrary to the will of the Turkish Cypriot people, their political equality, and the realities of international law. They are unacceptable.

Such statements are a clear attack and disrespect to the Turkish Cypriot people's right to self-determination, their years-long struggle for self-governance, and their demand to be equal political subjects respected internationally.

Any political discourse that trivializes the will of the Turkish Cypriot people is unacceptable to us.

As CTP, we invite all segments of society to contribute to the strengthening of the spirit of social brotherhood and the development of respectable fraternal relations with the Republic of Turkey, and to act with this awareness.

Source: News Center