Turkish Nationalist Leader Bahçeli Calls for Turkish Cyprus Annexation Following Election Results

Bahçeli Urges Annexation Amidst Election Discontent

Devlet Bahçeli, leader of Turkey's Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), has called for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to reject its recent presidential election results and pursue annexation to Turkey. The controversial statement was made on October 19-20, 2025, following the victory of opposition candidate Tufan Erhürman in the TRNC presidential election.

Bahçeli, a key political ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, argued that the election, held on Sunday, was marked by 'very low turnout' and that its outcome 'cannot be accepted.' He urged the TRNC legislature to 'convene immediately, declare the rejection of a return to federation on the divided island and take a decision to join the Republic of Turkey.'

Turkish Cypriot Election Results and Political Landscape

The call for annexation came after Tufan Erhürman, leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), secured a decisive victory in the TRNC presidential election. Erhürman won with 62.76 percent of the vote, defeating the Ankara-backed incumbent, Ersin Tatar, who received 35.81 percent. The voter turnout for the election was reported at 64.87 percent, with over 218,000 people casting votes.

Erhürman, a 55-year-old Nicosia-born lawyer, campaigned on a platform aimed at re-invigorating stalled peace negotiations with Greek Cypriot officials to achieve a federal reunification of the island. In contrast, Tatar, 65, had advocated for the international recognition of Turkish Cyprus as an independent state under a two-state model, a position aligned with Ankara's policy.

Divergent Reactions and International Implications

Bahçeli's proposal has elicited varied reactions from key political figures. While Bahçeli vehemently rejected the election outcome, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan adopted a more conciliatory stance, congratulating Erhürman and expressing hope that the results would 'benefit our nations and the region.' Erdoğan also affirmed that Turkey would 'continue to defend the rights and sovereign interests' of the Turkish Cypriot people.

On the Greek Cypriot side, President Nikos Christodoulides congratulated Erhürman and signaled readiness for renewed talks, emphasizing that any solution should respect UN resolutions, Security Council decisions, and European Union principles. Bahçeli's call for annexation is widely seen as a direct challenge to international law and United Nations resolutions concerning Cyprus, which has been divided since Turkey's 1974 military intervention. The TRNC is recognized solely by Turkey, and many Turkish Cypriots value their self-governance, making calls for closer integration a contentious issue.

Future of Cyprus Negotiations

The strong statement from Bahçeli underscores the complex political dynamics surrounding the Cyprus issue. Erhürman's victory, with his platform favoring a federal solution, has reopened discussions on the possibility of renewed peace talks after years of stalemate. However, the differing views within Turkey's political landscape, particularly between Bahçeli's hardline stance and Erdoğan's more diplomatic approach, highlight the challenges ahead for any potential resolution on the ethnically split island.