The president of Northern Cyprus is the head of state of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Rauf Denktaş was the first and founding president of Northern Cyprus, and retired in 2005. His position was taken over by Mehmet Ali Talat, followed by Derviş Eroğlu,Northern Cyprus's new president: Enter Eroglu (The Economist) Retrieved on 2011-06-01. then Mustafa Akıncı, Ersin Tatar, and the current president, Tufan Erhürman.
The president is elected every five years. Presidential elections are held in two rounds if no candidate gains more than 50% of the votes in the first round. It is necessary that the president is originated from the island of Cyprus. The president must have lived in the country for five years, received secondary education and be over 30 years old.
The presidency is not a ceremonial position in the semi-presidential political system of Northern Cyprus. The president reserves the right to dismiss the Assembly of the Republic in case a government cannot be formed within sixty days or three successive governments receive votes of no confidence. They also can preside over the Council of Ministers if they wish to do so, approve the appointments of the judges and president of the Supreme Court and have the right to send laws approved by the Assembly of the Republic to the Supreme Court. The president has also traditionally been the chief negotiator for the resolution of the Cyprus dispute and been responsible for the foreign relations of Northern Cyprus.
The president is represented by the speaker of the Assembly of the Republic when the president is abroad.
The most recent presidential election was held on 19 October 2025. Tufan Erhürman is the current president.
List of officeholders
President of the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus (1975–1983) The Turkish Federated State of Cyprus was intended as an autonomous part of Cyprus, but was rejected by the government of the Republic of Cyprus.
Portrait Name Elected Term of office Political party Took office Left office Duration 1 Rauf Denktaş 19761981 13 February 1975 15 November 1983 Independent National Unity Party
Presidents of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (1983–present) This list gives all presidents after Northern Cyprus' unilateral declaration of independence in 1983, which followed after the refusal of the government of the Republic of Cyprus to recognize the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus.
Portrait Name Elected Term of office Political party Took office Left office Duration 1 Rauf Denktaş 1985 15 November 1983 15 March 1990 National Unity Party — Hakkı Atun — 15 March 1990 25 April 1990 National Unity Party Rauf Denktaş 199019952000 25 April 1990 24 April 2005 National Unity Party 2 Mehmet Ali Talat 2005 24 April 2005 23 April 2010 Republican Turkish Party 3 Derviş Eroğlu 2010 23 April 2010 30 April 2015 National Unity Party 4 Mustafa Akıncı 2015 30 April 2015 23 October 2020 Independent 5 Ersin Tatar 2020 23 October 2020 24 October 2025 National Unity Party 6 Tufan Erhürman 2025 24 October 2025 Incumbent Republican Turkish Party
Timeline
Latest election
See also Politics of Northern Cyprus Prime Minister of Northern Cyprus
References
External links Official website