The presidential election will be held in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on April 18.

TRNC Supreme Electoral Board announced a timetable for the upcoming election.

Accordingly, the election process will begin on February 24.

Political parties will be given time till March 9 to name their candidates. The deadline for candidates to run in the election is set as March 12. The Board will officially announce the list of candidates on March 22.

The presidential election will be held on April 18. If any candidate cannot reach the required threshold of 50 percent in the first round, the second round of the election will be held on April 25 between the two candidates who received the highest number of votes in the first round.

Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu, leader of the National Unity Party (UBP), officially announced that he would run in the election.

President Mehmet Ali Talat is expected to announce his candidacy after his scheduled visit to Spain on February 25 and 27.

Rauf Denktas was the first president of the TRNC which was established in 1983. He remained at office from 1983 to 2005. He was replaced by Mehmet Ali Talat during the 2005 election.

AA