Cyprus Turks are Fed up with Voting

The fate of the island was shaken as a result of both of these events. The latest election however did not excite people on the island as much as the two previous elections. Elections were also met without enthusiasm by Turkey. The majority of Turkish media did not even send correspondents to the island unlike during previous elections where the island had been swamped by journalists. Most of the live broadcast vehicles at the Lefkose (Nicosia) Saray Square belonged to Southern Cyprus Media Networks. Even the retired generals who supporters of change had previously complained, made no contribution to election campaign activities. With the exception of one or two there was little or no appearance of the nationalist party or non-governmental organizations. A journalist working on the island summed up the reason for this: "In fact this election experience is a first. All the parties which entered the election race paid homage to the government in Turkey."

The pro-solution Republican Turkish Party based its election campaign on one-ruling party coming into government. Members who resigned from the coalition government did not allow the 2004 budget to be passed in parliament. One of the differences in this election is that both Dervis Eroglu’s National Unity Party and Serdar Denktas’ s Democrat Party have started to say, "solution".

People on both sides are fed up with the elections. The fact that the European Union (UN) and the United Nations (UN) and the US did not deliver their promises led to some extent to a demoralization. In Lefkose (Nicosia), we talked to citizens who were registered at ballot centers in the villages, and they remarked that they will not even planning to vote. Cypriot Turks however are aware that the Republican Turkish Party (RTP) may not have the power to fulfill its promises. They believe that the Prime Minister Mr. Talat has changed the Island’s image. And they intend to give him another chance.

The other important thing to note regarding this election is that it is going to be a determining factor for the up coming Presidential elections. Cypriot politicians were looking forward to the elections but their focus is on who will replace Rauf Denktas. In a recent RTP rally in a demonstration of power they chanted slogans outside the Presidential residence. Chanting, "Palace, Palace we are coming to the palace." This show of solidarity is evident of what this election means.