Northern Cyprus parliamentary election, 2005
Encyclopedia
Early parliamentary elections were held in the internationally unrecognised Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
on 20 February 2005, after the coalition government led by Mehmet Ali Talat
lost its majority in the House of Representatives. The House had 50 members, elected for a five year term by mitigated proportional representation
. Under North Cyprus law, a party had to receive 5% of the total vote) to get any seats in parliament.
's CTP
-United Forces alliance, although it fell just short of a majority. The UBP, Democratic Party
and BDH
also crossed the 5% election threshold and won seats in the House.
(+/-) - Difference in seats from 2003 election.
The participation rate was 80.82%, with 119,009 out of 147,249 eligible voters casting a ballot.
was held on 25 June 2006 to fill the positions left vacant by the death of Salih Miroglu (UBP general secretary) and the election of Talat as president
. The two parliamentary seats in contention were in Lefkoşa and Kyrenia
. This by-election was held together with municipal elections, and the United States Department of State
reported that both "were generally free and fair". Of the two vacant seats, one was held by the National Unity Party, the other by the RTP. The two elected candidates were Gülboy Beydağlı and Özkan Yorgancıoğlu, both of which belong to the RTP. The latter thus increased its representation in the Assembly from 24 to 25 seats. The ruling coalition of the RTP and DP had difficulty forming a government after this by-election. When three deputies (two from the National Unity Party and one from the Democratic Party) resigned to form the new, progovernment Freedom and Reform Party in September, the coalition collapsed and Serdar Denktaş
quit the government. The RTP then formed a coalition government
with the newly formed Freedom and Reform Party, in which it was the biggest partner, holding seven ministries.
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Northern Cyprus or North Cyprus , officially the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus , is a self-declared state that comprises the northeastern part of the island of Cyprus...
on 20 February 2005, after the coalition government led by Mehmet Ali Talat
Mehmet Ali Talat
Mehmet Ali Talat is the former President of the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. He was the leader of the left wing Republican Turkish Party . He became prime minister in 2004, and subsequently won the Presidential election held on 17 April 2005...
lost its majority in the House of Representatives. The House had 50 members, elected for a five year term by mitigated proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
. Under North Cyprus law, a party had to receive 5% of the total vote) to get any seats in parliament.
Official results
The vote was a resounding victory for Mehmet Ali TalatMehmet Ali Talat
Mehmet Ali Talat is the former President of the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. He was the leader of the left wing Republican Turkish Party . He became prime minister in 2004, and subsequently won the Presidential election held on 17 April 2005...
's CTP
Republican Turkish Party
The Republican Turkish Party is a social democratic political party in the Republic of Cyprus. The party was founded in 1970 by Ahmet Mithat Berberoğlu, a lawyer, in opposition to the leadership of Fazıl Küçük and Rauf Denktaş.In the 1980s, the CTP's political position shifted to the left, to a...
-United Forces alliance, although it fell just short of a majority. The UBP, Democratic Party
Democratic Party (Northern Cyprus)
The Democratic Party is a center-right conservative political party in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. President of the party is Serdar Denktaş, son of the ex-president Rauf Denktaş....
and BDH
Peace and Democracy Movement
The Peace and Democracy Movement was a social democratic political party in the de facto Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. In the last legislative elections for the House of Representatives of Northern Cyprus - 20 January 2005 - the party won 5.8 % of the popular vote and 1 out of the 50 seats...
also crossed the 5% election threshold and won seats in the House.
Nationwide results
As published by the Turkish Cypriot Electoral Commission in the Official Gazette on February 22:| Party | Leader | Votes | % of total vote | Seats | ||
 |
Republican Turkish Party Republican Turkish Party The Republican Turkish Party is a social democratic political party in the Republic of Cyprus. The party was founded in 1970 by Ahmet Mithat Berberoğlu, a lawyer, in opposition to the leadership of Fazıl Küçük and Rauf Denktaş.In the 1980s, the CTP's political position shifted to the left, to a... and United Forces (CTP-BG) |
Mehmet Ali Talat Mehmet Ali Talat Mehmet Ali Talat is the former President of the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. He was the leader of the left wing Republican Turkish Party . He became prime minister in 2004, and subsequently won the Presidential election held on 17 April 2005... |
261,287 | 44.5 | 24 | 5 |
| National Unity Party (UBP) | Dervis Eroglu Dervis Eroglu Dr. Derviş Eroğlu is the President of the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. He was Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus from 1985 to 1994 and from 1996 to 2004, and leader of the National Unity Party. His party won the general elections in 2009 and Eroğlu... |
160,974 | 31.7 | 19 | 1 | |
 |
Democratic Party Democratic Party (Northern Cyprus) The Democratic Party is a center-right conservative political party in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. President of the party is Serdar Denktaş, son of the ex-president Rauf Denktaş.... (DP) |
Serdar Denktash | 71,764 | 13.5 | 6 | −1 |
| Peace and Democracy Movement Peace and Democracy Movement The Peace and Democracy Movement was a social democratic political party in the de facto Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. In the last legislative elections for the House of Representatives of Northern Cyprus - 20 January 2005 - the party won 5.8 % of the popular vote and 1 out of the 50 seats... (BDH) |
Mustafa Akinci | 40,174 | 5.8 | 1 | −5 | |
 |
Social Liberation Party Communal Liberation Party The Communal Liberation Party was a progressive political party in Northern Cyprus.At the last legislative elections for the House of Representatives of Northern Cyprus - 20 January 2005, the party won 2.4 % of the popular vote and 0 out of 50 seats... (TKP) |
Hüseyin Angolemli | 15,428 | 2.4 | 0 | N/A |
| New Party New Party (Cyprus) The New Party is a political party in Northern Cyprus.At the last legislative elections for the House of Representatives of Northern Cyprus - held on 20 January 2005, the party won 1.6 % of the popular vote and 0 out of 50 seats.... (YP) |
Nuri Çevikel | 5,998 | 1.6 | 0 | N/A | |
| Nationalist Justice Party (MAP) | Ata Tepe | 2,088 | 0.5 | 0 | N/A | |
(+/-) - Difference in seats from 2003 election.
The participation rate was 80.82%, with 119,009 out of 147,249 eligible voters casting a ballot.
June 2006 by-election
A by-electionBy-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
was held on 25 June 2006 to fill the positions left vacant by the death of Salih Miroglu (UBP general secretary) and the election of Talat as president
Northern Cyprus presidential election, 2005
Presidential elections were held in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on Sunday April 17, 2005. It followed parliamentary elections in the internationally unrecognised country on February 20, which had been won by the pro-unification Republican Turkish Party .It is traditional in Turkish...
. The two parliamentary seats in contention were in Lefkoşa and Kyrenia
Kyrenia
Kyrenia is a town on the northern coast of Cyprus, noted for its historic harbour and castle. Internationally recognised as part of the Republic of Cyprus, Kyrenia has been under Turkish control since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974...
. This by-election was held together with municipal elections, and the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
reported that both "were generally free and fair". Of the two vacant seats, one was held by the National Unity Party, the other by the RTP. The two elected candidates were Gülboy Beydağlı and Özkan Yorgancıoğlu, both of which belong to the RTP. The latter thus increased its representation in the Assembly from 24 to 25 seats. The ruling coalition of the RTP and DP had difficulty forming a government after this by-election. When three deputies (two from the National Unity Party and one from the Democratic Party) resigned to form the new, progovernment Freedom and Reform Party in September, the coalition collapsed and Serdar Denktaş
Serdar Denktas
Serdar Denktaş is the one surviving son of Rauf Denktaş, the former President of the de facto Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus....
quit the government. The RTP then formed a coalition government
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
with the newly formed Freedom and Reform Party, in which it was the biggest partner, holding seven ministries.