By Sarantis Michalopoulos

( EurActiv ) — Turkish Cypriots are heading to the polls on Sunday to elect a new leader – but as history shows, Ankara is likely to have the final say, regardless of the result. A victory for the progressive candidate, however, could mark a significant shift.

The so-called “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)” declared independence in 1983 – nearly a decade after Turkey’s military intervention in 1974, which followed a coup backed by the Greek junta. Since then, the northern part of the island has remained under Turkish control.

To this day, Turkey is the only country to recognise the TRNC – no other nation, including those in the EU, has extended diplomatic recognition.

The division of Cyprus remains an open wound as Nicosia is the last divided EU c

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