Main political events in Türkiye in the last week.
Main political events in Türkiye in the last week.
As always, it was a busy week in Türkiye’s political landscape. At the top of the national agenda were the presidential elections held in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
Another headline was President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to the Gulf countries.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s and National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Chief İbrahim Kalın’s meeting with Hamas officials was the other significant event of the week.
Presidential election in Northern Cyprus
Tufan Erhürman, the candidate of the opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP), won the presidential election held in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on October 19.
According to the TRNC Supreme Election Board, voter turnout stood at 64.87 percent. Erhürman received 62.76 percent of the vote, while his rival, incumbent president Ersin Tatar 35.81 percent.
Following his victory, Erhürman stated that there will be no change in the TRNC’s close relations with Türkiye. “The Turkish Cypriot people have repeatedly demonstrated their will for a solution for Cyprus, together with the Republic of Türkiye, the guarantor of this whole island, in full view of the entire world,” he said. “We have never shied away from dialogue, negotiations. But after all we’ve been through, engaging in talks just for the sake of appearances is something my people cannot accept.”
Addressing the issue of a “federal solution” in Cyprus, Erhürman emphasized:
“Our foremost duty to the elders who fought for our existence under harsh conditions and to the children we cherish is to lift this country and its people to their rightful place in the world, to connect them with the world, and to provide our children with the same opportunities enjoyed by those in prosperous and developed countries. Protecting the rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriot people and passing them on to future generations is our top priority. The entire world should know, and will know, that the Turkish Cypriot community is one of the two equal founding partners of this island and shares ownership of everything on and around it. Decisions concerning security, energy, hydrocarbons, maritime zones, trade routes, or EU citizenship cannot be taken without the consent of the Turkish Cypriot people.
The defeat of Ersin Tatar, who had Ankara’s backing, in the election has stirred debate in Türkiye.
Officials from the ruling bloc emphasized that Türkiye’s support for TRNC would continue. Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Numan Kurtulmuş congratulated Erhürman on social media:
“I congratulate Mr. Tufan Erhürman, who was elected President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. I hope the election brings good fortune to the TRNC, our country, and the Turkish world. As Türkiye, we will continue to defend the rightful cause of the Turkish Cypriots under all circumstances.”
AKP spokesperson Ömer Çelik issued a similar statement:
“Congratulations to the people of the TRNC on their presidential election. We will always stand by the TRNC and the just cause of the Turkish Cypriots. We will continue to offer our strongest support for their historic and legitimate claims.”
From the government’s ally, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli made stern and controversial remarks. Bahçeli said that the TRNC should join the Republic of Türkiye as soon as possible. He stated:
“Cyprus is Turkish. It is the homeland of the Turks. The idea of federation has no validity or future. Cyprus is our national cause, the land of our ancestors’ labor, tears, and memories. There is no turning back from this just and rightful cause.
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My sincere hope is that the results of the election in Cyprus will be interpreted wisely by everyone, and that we understand how the mine-laden path toward federalism could affect our country and region. This has nothing to do with democratic rights or respect for the ballot box, it is a matter of homeland, nation, survival, security, honor, and dignity. We cannot rule out the possible threat that would revive the painful experiences of the past, caused by the political mindset that rejects a two-state solution based on sovereign equality and instead leans toward federation.”
MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli openly called for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to formally join Türkiye. He said:
“Cyprus is far more than just an island. It is a stronghold in the Eastern Mediterranean, the lifeline of the Turkish nation, and the political, strategic, and geopolitical embodiment of our independence and existence. The security and future of Cyprus are one and the same as those of the Republic of Türkiye. In this regard, Cyprus is Turkish and will always remain so. Everyone must come to their senses and act accordingly.
Cyprus is the sacred legacy of our martyrs, the honor of our veterans and resistance fighters, the symbol of the Turkish Resistance Organization, and the heritage of our founding president Rauf Denktaş, Dr. Fazıl Küçük, and all Turkish Cypriots. I emphasize: the TRNC parliament should convene immediately, declare that a return to federation is unacceptable, and take the decision of the Republic of Türkiye.”
On the contrary, the leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) Özgür Özel took a sharply different tone. He welcomed the election outcome. He said, “I wholeheartedly congratulate my dear friend and the leader of our sister party CTP, Mr. Tufan Erhürman.”
Pointing to the activities of the government during the election period Özel stated:
“The people of TRNC have not only elected Mr. Erhürman but have also sent a clear message in defense of their democracy and national will. They rejected outside interference by those who tried to sway the election and ran an open campaign on the island for their preferred candidate. We hope those in Ankara who disregarded both diplomatic norms and the law, resorted to smear campaigns, and still display their resentment on social media will finally understand the message of the people of TRNC. I also value Mr. Erhürman’s calm and constructive tone in relations with our state. Tomorrow, the TRNC will wake up to a new and hopeful day.”
Good Party leader Müsavat Dervişoğlu also urged respect for the will of the Turkish Cypriot people, saying:
“If our greatest desire is for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to be recognized as an independent state, then first we must respect the sovereignty and will of the Turkish Cypriot people. Any decision our brothers and sisters make means nothing to us other than the expression of the national will. That national will has been expressed today, and the leader of the Republican Turkish Party, Mr. Tufan Erhürman, has won the election in the first round. I congratulate him and wish that the result contributes to the prosperity and development of our brothers and sisters in the TRNC, to peace, and to the permanence of their security.”
Özgür Bursalı, Secretary General of the Vatan Party, offered a different reading of the vote, placing it in a wider regional-security context. He stated:
“This election took place amid US–Israel-centered threats directed at Türkiye and a buildup of armed forces in the Eastern Mediterranean. After this election result, it became more difficult to defend Cyprus in the face of armed threats. The armed threat to the island has become more severe.”
Without naming any leader he criticized “the political programs for integrating with Europe” and said “they will hold no meaning or future for Cyprus”.
Bursalı talked about the geopolitical aspect:
“Türkiye’s, Iran’s, and China’s Belt and Road security also passes through Cyprus. That’s why there is such a large military build-up on and around the island. Tufan Erhürman faces the question: how will he respond to the armed threats and buildups in the Eastern Mediterranean driven from the Greek Cypriot side, and where will he position himself? They can’t take a proper stance through pro-Europe policies.
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Also, Ankara should draw conclusions from the election. Ankara should review its Cyprus policies. Because the government has not taken an active stance to secure recognition of the TRNC as a state, because you haven’t built a strategy. If you do not resolutely defend a policy of independence, production revolution, security, positioning Türkiye in Asia, if you continue the so-called ‘policy of balance’, then we see the repercussions now in TRNC. If Türkiye does not follow the right line and strategy, and if it does not act with the strategic thinking the Vatan Party proposes, the result is clear.”
Erdoğan’s Gulf tour
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan carried out a three-day Gulf tour between October 21 and 23, visiting Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman for a series of high-level meetings.
In Kuwait, Erdoğan met with Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to discuss bilateral relations, regional and global developments. Following the meeting, Erdoğan stressed the critical importance of maintaining the fragile ceasefire in Gaza, reiterating that a two-state solution remains essential for lasting peace. He underlined the need for a unified stance among Muslim nations on the issue. He also expressed Türkiye’s willingness to cooperate with Arab states in the reconstruction of Syria.
During the visit, Türkiye and Kuwait signed several agreements covering energy, finance, trade, and transportation.
Erdoğan then traveled to Qatar, where he and Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The two leaders co-chaired the 11th meeting of the Türkiye–Qatar High Strategic Committee.
Talks covered on bilateral ties and regional issues. Erdoğan emphasized that relations between the two countries were already “excellent” in areas such as military cooperation, defense industry, energy, trade, and investment, and that both sides were determined to deepen them further. At the conclusion of the talks, the two countries signed new agreements covering defense, trade, and industrial cooperation.
Erdoğan also noted that the Türkiye–Qatar partnership had made significant contributions to regional stability, particularly regarding Gaza.
The final stop on Erdoğan’s tour was Oman, where he was hosted by Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, who held a state dinner in Turkish President’s honor.
Their meeting centered on bilateral relations and the ceasefire in Gaza. The countries signed a number of agreements, including the establishment of a coordination council, as well as deals on military cooperation, defense industry, mining, energy, and visa exemptions.
Türkiye–Hamas meeting
Another major topic on Türkiye’s agenda last week was the meeting between Turkish officials and Hamas leaders, attended by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Chief İbrahim Kalın.
The meeting took place in Qatar and brought together Fidan and Kalın with Hamas Shura Council Chairman Muhammad Darwish Ismail and members of the group’s Political Bureau.
According to media reports, Minister Fidan highlighted the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, stressing that Türkiye would never allow the genocide to be ignored or forgotten by the international community.
The talks focused on the need to halt Israel’s attacks on Gaza, establish a lasting ceasefire, and ensure the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Fidan reaffirmed that Türkiye support for the Palestinian cause remains unwavering. He said that Ankara will continue its diplomatic efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in the region.