Arıklı: “Tatar Now Leads by 1–2 Points, We Will Extend the Gap to Five in Final 20 Days”

Speaking on Kanal T TV, Arıklı vowed to widen the gap to five points in the final 20 days of the campaign.

He argued that polls are not fully reliable, especially those conducted by phone, which focus mainly on urban areas. Including rural regions would yield more accurate results, he said. Arıklı also accused Erhürman of avoiding polemics and failing to give clear answers on the Cyprus issue, calling for him to clarify his positions on guarantees, troops, and territorial maps.

Arıklı claimed Erhürman’s campaign now focuses on domestic issues such as agriculture and tourism, avoiding Cyprus negotiations. He also questioned whether Erhürman is honest with voters in areas like Dipkarpaz, Sipahi, Erenköy, Maraş, and Güzelyurt about their possible inclusion in territorial concessions.

He stressing that the last 20 days will be decisive and that his team will continue highlighting gaps and inconsistencies in rivals’ strategies.

‘Erhürman Avoids Polemics, Does Not Answer Questions’

Arıklı said that Tufan Erhürman has adopted a strategy of avoiding polemics, staying away from debates, and refraining from extreme rhetoric. He argued that this approach is intended to limit his opponents’ room to maneuver and keep his own supporters from adopting extreme rhetoric. While acknowledging that Erhürman’s team is well-organized, Arıklı said he avoids answering many questions. In particular, he stressed that Erhürman’s proposals and positions on the Cyprus issue are unclear, pointing out that statements such as “continuing from where we left off at Crans-Montana” are ambiguous. Arıklı said he has been asking for concrete answers to questions such as, “Where exactly do you stand on the map? Where do you stand on zero troops and zero guarantees?”

Cyprus Issue and Domestic-Focused Campaign

Arıklı argued that Erhürman has largely avoided the Cyprus issue in the final stretch of the campaign, instead focusing more on domestic politics. He said voter complaints about internal issues were found to be prominent, which is why campaign messages have focused on pledges in areas such as agriculture and tourism.

He also raised questions about specific regions, saying: “When Tufan Hoca campaigns in places like Dipkarpaz, Sipahi, Erenköy, Varosha, and Morphou, does he tell the local people that these villages and towns are marked for return to the Greek Cypriots on Akıncı’s map?” He said these questions have gone unanswered.

Television Debates: For Advanced Democracies

Another topic discussed on the program was the significance of television debates. Arıklı argued that the culture of live televised debates is something seen “only in countries with advanced democracies.” Drawing comparisons with the United States and Europe, he noted that voters in those countries assess everything from the candidates’ clothing to their body language during such debates. In Cyprus, he said, campaigns are more focused on fieldwork and direct contact with voters.

Arıklı concluded by emphasizing that the last 20 days will be decisive and that his campaign will continue to highlight the shortcomings and ambiguities in his opponents’ strategies.