The unresolved Cyprus problem still “concerns” a majority of Turkish Cypriots
The fact that the Cyprus problem remains unsolved is still among people’s top “concerns” in north Cyprus, according to the results of an opinion poll. “To work for a solution to the Cyprus problem” is what 55% of the respondents would expect from their future president. Overall, people seem to be fed up with their economic problems and the existing model of relations with Turkey. Read the details of this very interesting opinion poll that gives cause for guarded optimism for a return to negotiations for a federal solution if Tatar is defeated in the next Turkish Cypriot presidential elections.
The Republican Turkish Party (RTK) leads the preferences of the participants in a poll conducted two months ago in north Cyprus by the Sratica Consulting and Research Center, using the method of personal interviews with 1,000 people in 149 villages and neighborhoods.
According to newspaper Geni Duzen, the RTP seems to maintain the percentages it had received in the “interim elections,” and no other party, except the National Unity Party (NUP) and the RTP, reaches the 5% threshold for entry into the parliament.
The report cites statements by the General Secretary of the RTP, Asim Akansoy, who, based on the poll results, stated that the party’s president, Tufan Erhurman, has the approval of all segments of society and is ready to assume leadership.
Demographic data from the survey indicate that 43% of voters were born in Turkey and 57% in Cyprus. 53% describe themselves as Cypriots or Turkish Cypriots, while 14.90% describe themselves as “Turks of Cyprus,” a term officially used by the current Turkish Cypriot government and the Turkish Cypriot leader. 29% of respondents characterize themselves solely as “Turks.”
Regarding the question as to who they would like to see as “president of the republic” and representative of the Turkish Cypriots in the world, the results show that the leader of the RTP Tufan Erhurman receives the highest percentage, but the support expressed for Ersin Tatar is also substantial. It is added that the rest do not receive significant percentages and only four exceed 1%.
Regarding the question as to “what is the most important characteristic you would like to see in the person who will become the president of the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”, 55% answered “to work for a solution to the Cyprus problem” and the engagement with internal problems take second place.
Moreover, the existing model of relations with Turkey does not seem to appeal to people, as 80% of the respondents wanted “healthy and balanced relations based on the interests of both countries.” The prevailing approach is reported to be “making decisions on our own.”
Regarding concerns about the future, respondents provided the following answers:
Besides, the existing model of relations with Turkey does not seem to satisfy the majority of people, since 80% of respondents want “healthy and balanced relations on a proper basis taking into account the interests of both countries”, with the publication stating that the prevailing approach is “to make our own decisions”.
When asked “what are your most important concerns for the future”, the respondents gave the following answers:
- Rising unemployment, devaluation of the Turkish lira, and a decrease in purchasing power: 61.30%
- The fact that the Cyprus problem remains unresolved: 59.20%
- Inability to meet basic needs: 41.90%
- Youth migration: 40.50%
- Uncontrolled and constantly changing demographic structure: 34.60%
- Political, religious, and cultural interventions: 21.00%
- Increase in corruption and partisanship: 12.90%
- Loss of rights and freedoms: 9.40%
Regarding the question of how satisfied they are with the “governance of the country,” the average satisfaction level of respondents was 3.61 out of 10 which is obviously very low.
