DERVIS Eroglu, >Prime Minister= of the breakaway regime in the north, yesterday pulled out of the >presidential= race yesterday, assuring victory to Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.
Eroglu, who took 30 per cent of the vote in last Saturday’s first round, announced his decision after informing the electoral board of his withdrawal, three days before the planned second round.
The board is expected to meet today to declare Denktash the winner. He secured 43.7 per cent of the vote on Saturday, falling well short of the 50 per cent needed for outright victory.
Eroglu gave no clear reason for his decision to withdraw.
AMay it be for the best… Pulling out is just as much a democratic right as entering elections,@ he told reporters, denying that he had been under any pressure from Turkey to withdraw in favour of Denktash, Ankara’s clear favourite.
AThere was no pressure and no threats,@ Eroglu said.
Eroglu, leader of the National Unity Party (NUP), later told a television station that the decision had been made by the party council. He said the aim had always been to prove the party could make it to a second round, and this had been fulfilled.
ASo it’s been a success,@ he said adding that his party would continue to fulfil its functions.
Speculation was rife earlier in the day that Eroglu would pull out because he was not willing to compromise his hardline stance on the Cyprus problem by making a deal for the votes of the more moderate Republican Turkish Party (RTP) led by Mehmet Ali Talat, who received 10.3 per cent of the vote on Saturday.
Earlier yesterday, prior to Eroglu’s withdrawal, the Communal Liberation Party (CLP) of Mustafa Akinci, which is already in the coalition >government= with Eroglu, urged its supporters to vote with their consciences in Saturday’s expected second round of balloting. Akinci took 11.7 per cent of the vote last weekend.
Without the backing of the two parties, Eroglu could not have secured the 50 per cent needed to beat Denktash.
AThe election is over,@ a buoyant Denktash told reporters during an impromptu street party outside his offices in occupied Nicosia last night. He said Eroglu’s party had realised it was not going to win the second round.
AHe got the point that the people were sliding towards me,@ said the veteran Turkish Cypriot leader. AAs a result he made a sound assessment and withdrew… The race ends here.@
Throughout his election campaign Denktash, 76, has been pushing his experience in the Cyprus issue to help secure his re-election.
He and President Glafcos Clerides are expected to begin a third round of UN-led proximity talks in New York on May 23.
AWe are going to go to a critical and a crucial meeting on May 23,@ Denktash said yesterday. AOur goal is to have a sound and lasting agreement for our people, an agreement which cannot be torn up.@
