NICOSIA, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Leftist Republican Turkish Party won a general election on Sunday in the breakaway "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus".
Turkish Cypriot media said that with 90 percent of the votes counted, the Republican Turkish Party won 38.5 percent, compared with 30 percent in a previous election in 2009.
The right wing National Unity Party of Prime Minister Irsen Kutchuk lost almost half of its electoral power and managed only 23.23 percent.
Several of its deputies had seceded and joined the rival right wing Democratic Party, which more than doubled its votes from 10 percent to 22 percent. Their action caused a general election due in 2014 to be brought forward several months.
Community Democracy Party had 6.2 percent, up from 2.3 percent in 2009.
Republican Turkish Party leader Oscan Yiorkantzioglu said the election result entitles him to form the government of the breakaway state, which is recognized only by Turkey.
However, he has to rely on the support of one of the small parties as his own party is expected to elect only 21 deputies in the 50-member chamber.
Right wing nationalist Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, who holds the post of president, will have to live with a left wing government.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey militarily intervened and controlled the north of Cyprus following a coup on the island by some Greek military officers.
Negotiations to reunite the eastern Mediterranean island are expected to resume in October.
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