Opposition lead in north Cyprus
Three Turkish-Cypriot opposition parties which have formed a common front against Rauf Denktash in a bid to achieve reunification of war-divided Cyprus before the island’s European Union entry next year could win an overwhelming victory in December’s elections, according to a poll published on Saturday. The Turkish-Cypriot leader accuses the three parties of trying to trick the electorate and of being in the EU’s pay. The poll, published in the Turkish-Cypriot press, found that 52.1 percent of respondents in Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus would vote for the loose «United Forces» coalition formed by the Republican Turkish Party of Mehmet Ali Talat, the Peace and Democracy Movement of Mustafa Akinci and the Solution and EU Party of Ali Erel. The National Unity Party of Dervis Eroglu and the Democratic Party of Denktash’s son, Serdar, would receive 22.9 and 9.1 percent, respectively. These two parties form Denktash’s main support base. The opposition says it will take over peace negotiations from Denktash if it wins.
