TRNC Democratic Party determines strategy for local elections in 18 municipalities

The Party Council of the Democratic Party (DP) of the TRNC has determined its strategy for the local elections: the party will field its own candidates in 9 of Northern Cyprus’s 18 municipalities, support independent candidates in 6 and incumbent candidates in 2 more.

The party’s own candidates will run in the municipalities of Lefkoşa, Girne, Tatlısu, Çatalköy–Esentepe, Erenköy–Karpaz, Değirmenlik–Akıncılar, Geçitkale–Serdarlı, Mesarya and YeniBoğaziçi.

The party will support independent candidates in six municipalities: Lefke, Güzelyurt, Lapta–Alsancak–Çamlıbel, Beyarmudu, Dikmen and Mehmetçik–Büyükkonuk. In two more — Gönyeli–Alayköy and İskele — DP will support incumbent candidates.

For the position of mayor of Famagusta, the party has supported the candidacy of Koral Bozkurt.

DP Secretary General Serhat Akpınar explained that the candidate’s reputation, public response, ability to ensure the operation of municipal services and the expectations of residents in specific districts were taken into account when nominating the party’s own candidates and deciding whether to support others. The party stated that it would work actively in all 18 municipalities.

The electoral calendar in the TRNC begins on 7 October: general and local elections will be held on the same day for the first time — 6 December.