Derviş Eroğlu

Who is Derviş Eroğlu?

Dr. Derviş Eroğlu is the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. He was Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus from 1985 to 1994 and from 1996 to 2004, and leader of the National Unity Party. His party won the general elections in 2009 and Eroğlu became Prime Minister again. On 23 April 2010, he took the oath to become the third President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

He entered the Assembly of the Republic of Northern Cyprus of the then-Turkish Federated State of Northern Cyprus in 1976, serving as Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports during 1976–77. He served as a member of the de facto TRNC Constituent Assembly in November 1983. As the leader of the National Unity Party, he was appointed TRNC Prime Minister in four successive governments between 1985 and 1993, and from 1996 until his party lost the general election to the Republican Turkish Party under Mehmet Ali Talat in 2004. Eroğlu's UBP won the majority in the parliament in elections of 18 April 2009; by 44% of the general vote and Eroğlu became prime minister again after 5 years.

On 21 November 2005, Eroğlu resigned as leader of the National Unity Party, stating that "it was time for younger blood to take control". Re-elected to the chair in November 2008. Eroğlu was elected to the office of President of Northern Cyprus on 18 April 2010. Because the UN does not recognize the TRNC it treats Derviş Eroğlu as bona fide negotiator for the Turkish Cypriot community of the Republic of Cyprus. In the negotiations, Mr Eroğlu uses an English translator as he does not speak English.