DP ousts CTP from north Nicosia seat

Cemal Bulutoglulari of the Democrat Party (DP) narrowly beat the incumbent Kutlay Erk of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) in the municipal elections for the unrecognised Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on Sunday by 136 votes.

The election was held for 28 mayors, 234 municipal council members, 149 muhtars and 520 village council members.

Just over 150,000 people were eligible to vote.

Bulutoglulari gained 36.67% of the vote while Erk gained 35.94%.

Semi Bora, candidate of the UBP, received 21.64%.

The UBP, the party of the former Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, was in fact the main loser overall, although it still has the largest number of municipalities and retained the major town of Morphou (Guzelyurt).

The UBP’s seats dropped from 16 in 2002 to 10 in 2006.

The CTP-UF, led by Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, raised its seats from 5 in 2002 to 8 in 2006 and maintained Famagusta and Kyrenia.

The DP, which is in coalition with the CTP-UF, raised its seats from 4 in 2002 to 7 in 2006.

The CTP-UF also raised its parliamentary seats to 25 following bi-elections for Nicosia and Kyrenia on the same day.