Candidates Announced for 'Presidential Elections' in Occupied Territories

The list of 8 candidates for the October 19 'presidential elections' in the occupied territories has been finalized following a draw at the 'supreme election council'. The order is: 1. Osman Zorba (Socialist Party of Cyprus), 2. Tufan Erhürman (Republican Turkish Party), 3. Arif Salih Kırdağ (independent), 4. Ahmet Boran (independent), 5. Mehmet Hasgüler (independent), 6. İbrahim Gazitçi (independent), 7. Hüseyin Gürlektaş (independent), 8. Ersin Tatar (independent).

The election campaign officially begins tomorrow and ends on October 18. According to 'legislation', the Turkish flag, the flag of the pseudo-state, religious phrases, and Arabic script are prohibited in campaign materials.

Ersin Tatar will present his vision entitled 'Vision: Diplomacy of Attack' in occupied Nicosia. Tufan Erhürman will also hold a similar event.

The Turkish Cypriot journalists' association has requested a public dialogue between the candidates.

The newspaper Dialogue refers to the support of settlers from Hatay for the two main candidates. According to the newspaper, 30,000 people from Hatay have received 'citizenship' of the pseudo-state.

Businessmen and 'opinion leaders' from Hatay announced their support for Ersin Tatar.

Source: CNA