Eroglu, a staunch backer of Turkish Cypriot independence, swept to victory in a vote which diplomats and analysts said could slow efforts to reunify the Mediterranean island and set back Turkey’s hopes to join the European Union.
Unofficial final results showed Eroglu winning 50.38 per cent of the vote with incumbent leader Mehmet Ali Talat garnering 42.85 per cent of the vote.
Turkey, the only country to recognise northern Cyprus as a state, exerts enormous influence on the Turkish Cypriots — it supports their economy with an estimated $700 million annual bill and maintains 30,000 troops there.
Speaking after results showed Eroglu with a comfortable lead, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara wanted a solution to the Cyprus issue — a main obstacle to his country’s hopes of joining the EU — by the end of 2010.
“Turkish Cypriots must continue the talks which is something Eroglu also believes in. It is our aim to find a solution by the end of the year,” Erdogan, who has shown more interest in a Cyprus settlement than his predecessors, told Turkey’s NTV.
Turkey had supported Talat, who led talks since 2008 with Greek Cypriots to reunite the island as a sovereign state with autonomy for the two zones but with an effective central administration.
Eroglu is seeking broad autonomy for Turkish Cypriots in reunification talks with Greek Cypriots, a position the Greek Cypriots object to. Greek Cypriots represent Cyprus in the European Union and have said they will block Turkey’s entry until the island is reunited.
