Left-Wing Alliance Takes Shape Ahead of Presidential Election

After right-wing parties agreed to back incumbent President Ersin Tatar under what they called a "common sense consensus," all eyes are now on the left’s next move.

TDP, which had earlier signalled it might field its own candidate, appears to be reconsidering its strategy. In a recent interview on Güne Dair on Kanal T, Lefkoşa Mayor and TDP Party Council member Mehmet Harmancı confirmed that talks are ongoing, hinting at a potential alliance.

Response to Embassy Rumours

Addressing speculation that he had been summoned to the Turkish Embassy, Harmancı stated: “I was not called to the embassy, nor have I had any conversations of that sort. I haven’t even visited the embassy since Ambassador Murat Bey assumed office, and I want to underline that clearly.”

“Public Interest in My Candidacy Cannot Be Denied”

Regarding the discussions surrounding a potential Harmancı candidacy, the Lefkoşa Mayor acknowledged the significant public interest:

“There is undoubtedly a great deal of encouragement and support coming from various quarters for my candidacy. To deny this would go against the current. However, I don’t believe the stance we’ve taken so far has been fully understood by the public.”

“We Are Managing the Process with Political Maturity”

Harmancı emphasised that the TDP is handling the situation with considerable political maturity, though he believes this has not been adequately appreciated by the public:

“We’re navigating a very delicate process, yet the general perception is, ‘Let them do whatever they’re going to do.’ I don’t think that reflects the seriousness of our approach.”

“Zeki Çeler Is Also Under Pressure”

Commenting on internal party dynamics, Harmancı noted that TDP leader Zeki Çeler is facing significant pressure:

“As party chair, Zeki Çeler is under heavy pressure. The party is heading into an election, and naturally there are those pushing for us to nominate our own candidate. A majority of the Party Council appears to favour this path.”

“Strategic Moves Must Be Made Against a United Bloc”

Harmancı highlighted the need for strategic decision-making, noting that cooperation must go beyond simply endorsing a candidate. This sentiment has strengthened speculation of a potential CTP–TDP alliance:

“If this were a multi-candidate race, the party would need to field its strongest contender. But what we face now is a unified bloc. In this case, it’s not enough to merely support a candidate — we must align ourselves with them and influence the political direction of the campaign.”

“Personal Views Will Be Shared Later”

Harmancı concluded by saying that while the party has not yet made a final decision, he is withholding personal opinions out of respect for internal processes:

“I don’t want to disrespect my party. We’re on the verge of making important, critical decisions. Perhaps next month we’ll speak more freely, but for now, we’ll clearly state our position within the party.”