Rauf Denktaş had resigned as president of…
2008 CE to 2019 CE
However, the pro-settlement side and Mehmet Ali Talat have lost momentum due to the ongoing embargo and isolation, despite promises from the European Union that these will be eased.
As a result, the Turkish Cypriot electorate becomes frustrated.
This leads ultimately to the pro-independence side winning the general elections in 2009 and its candidate, former Prime Minister Derviş Eroğlu, winning the presidential elections in 2010.
Although Eroğlu and his National Unity Party favor the independence of Northern Cyprus rather than reunification with the Republic of Cyprus, he is negotiating with the Greek Cypriot side towards a settlement for reunification.