His victory could end UN-brokered talks to reunify the island and jeopardise Turkey’s drive to gain entry to the European Union (EU).
Eroglu, 72, won 50.36 per cent of the votes, defeating incumbent Mehmet Ali Talat,58, who took 41.78 per cent votes. Talat who had been conducting intensive negotiations over the past 19 months with Cyprus President Demetris Christofias. Their aim was to reunify the island, divided since Turkey occupied the north in 1974. Talat and Christofias, both leftists and old friends, have met 70 times without finalising a deal but had asked for more time. That time is now up.
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