Erhürman: Five More Years Lost, But the Presidency Will Be Different After October

Speaking during an interview on TV2020, Erhürman argued that the past five years under President Ersin Tatar were marked by missed opportunities and a lack of leadership on both domestic and diplomatic fronts.

He said that no official negotiations or progress on confidence-building measures were undertaken, stressing that dialogue and diplomacy were entirely absent. “This will be the first presidential term to end without formal negotiations,” he noted.

Erhürman highlighted that the Presidency should also take a leadership role on internal issues, criticizing the failure to convene the Republic Security Council over the past five years despite serious problems in education, healthcare, and the economy. “With the Euro reaching 47, even the South has become cheaper. Did the Presidency take any initiative on this?” he asked.

He also criticized President Tatar’s push for a two-state solution: “I didn’t understand the so-called ‘new policy,’ and I haven’t met anyone who does.”

On natural gas exploration, Erhürman questioned how the Turkish Cypriot side could stake a claim if it accepts separate states. “What did this thesis bring to our people in five years?” he asked, emphasizing the need for a predictable future.

Erhürman further said that long-standing problems like congestion at crossing points remained unresolved, adding: “We lost another five years of our children’s future—how many more generations will we waste?”

Thanking the Communal Democracy Party (TDP) for its support, Erhürman said the party’s endorsement reflects the seriousness of the situation. “It’s a response to the question: ‘Will we let another five years pass like this?’”

He added that the next Presidency will not ignore basic questions such as population figures and will not remain indifferent to the problems caused by population growth. “It will be a Presidency that truly cares for this country,” he said.

“The Presidency must be open to criticism,” Erhürman continued. “People must feel free. What we’re offering is a Presidency led by qualified and competent individuals—this confidence comes not only from me but from our people’s trust in their own.”

He concluded, “After October, the Presidency will no longer be what it was—it will be the home of the Turkish Cypriot people.”