Ersin Tatar Says ‘Cübbeli Ahmet Cost Me Five Percent of the Vote’

Tatar, who lost the presidential race to CTP candidate Tufan Erhürman by 63 to 36 percent, gave his first interview to Turkish media following the defeat. Speaking about the pre-election video in which Cübbeli Ahmet expressed support for him, Tatar said the statement backfired: “He cost me five percent. Thank you very much—he cost me five percent. This public does not buy into such things.”

Tatar argued that Erhürman’s biggest electoral advantage came from promising Turkish-origin voters access to Republic of Cyprus passports. “This became his strongest argument. He managed the communication well,” he said, adding that although he personally discussed the matter with Greek Cypriot officials, he could not publicly promote such a pledge as President. He maintained that the promise will not materialise, noting that he raised the issue with both Turkish and Greek officials without success. “But for the first time, so many voters from Turkey voted for Tufan Bey,” he added.

Tatar acknowledged that Erhürman’s win was a personal success for the CTP leader. Addressing claims about Ankara’s support for his own campaign, he said he naturally had strong ties across Turkey: “People came and went; they like me. I have received honorary doctorates from more than 20 universities. I have exceptional relationships across Turkey, and of course this reflects here.”

However, Tatar said the election also showed that Turkish Cypriots reject any form of external direction. “The Turkish Cypriot is a free people who express their will. They said, ‘We will never accept others directing us.’ I did not ask anyone to come and intervene. They came with good intentions. And the French and British envoys also came, though we did not hear much about that,” he said, arguing that various foreign organisations are active on the island without transparent oversight.

On Bahçeli’s calls for the TRNC to become Turkey’s 82nd province, Tatar said the statements were not acceptable to the public. Interpreting Bahçeli’s message, he added: “Those who support a federation won. From that perspective, with a federation this place becomes a province of the European Union. He meant that if it is to become a province, better Turkey’s.”

Defending his own political stance, Tatar insisted that only a sovereignty-based agreement could protect the future of the Turkish Cypriot people, not the federal model supported by the new administration. Criticising Erhürman and his team, he said: “They have nothing solid. They just want an agreement—any agreement—as long as Turkey slowly withdraws, its authority decreases, and population transfers stop. They think they will handle the rest with the EU and the Greek Cypriots. ‘Just sign an agreement,’ they say. Anlaşaman be gardaş!”

Responding to criticism that he avoided returning to the negotiating table during his presidency, Tatar claimed that Erhürman would now face the same constraints. “He will not be able to sit at the negotiating table under these conditions,” Tatar said.

Source: T24