{{Short description|President of Northern Cyprus from 2020 to 2025}} {{Use British English|date=February 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Ersin Tatar | office = 5th [[President of Northern Cyprus]] | prime_minister = [[Ersan Saner]]<br/>[[Faiz Sucuoğlu]]<br/>[[Ünal Üstel]] | term_start = 23 October 2020 | predecessor = [[Mustafa Akıncı]] | office1 = 13th [[Prime Minister of Northern Cyprus]] | term_start1 = 22 May 2019 | term_end1 = 23 October 2020 | president1 = [[Mustafa Akıncı]] | predecessor1 = Tufan Erhürman | successor1 = [[Ersan Saner]] | image = Ersin Tatar in April 2025 (cropped).jpg | caption = Tatar in 2025 | office4 = [[Leader of the Opposition]] | term_start4 = 30 October 2018 | term_end4 = 22 May 2019 | prime_minister4 = [[Tufan Erhürman]] | office2 = [[National Unity Party (Northern Cyprus)#Party leaders|Leader of the National Unity Party]] | predecessor2 = [[Hüseyin Özgürgün]] | successor2 = [[Ersan Saner]] | term_start2 = 30 October 2018 | term_end2 = 23 October 2020 | office7 = [[Assembly of the Republic (Northern Cyprus)|Member of the Assembly of the Republic]] | term_start7 = 19 April 2009 | term_end7 = 23 October 2020 | constituency7 = [[Lefkoşa]] ([[7th Parliament of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus|2009]], [[8th Parliament of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus|2013]], [[9th Parliament of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus|2018]]) | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1960|09|07|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Nicosia]], Cyprus | party = [[National Unity Party (Northern Cyprus)|National Unity Party]] (2003–2020) | alma_mater = [[Jesus College, Cambridge]] | spouse = Sibel Tatar | children = 2 | signature = Ersin Tatar Signature.svg | education = [[Forest School, Walthamstow]] | successor = [[Tufan Erhürman]] | term_end = 24 October 2025 }}

'''Ersin Tatar''' (born 7 September 1960) is a Turkish Cypriot politician of [[Crimean Tatar]] origin who served as the fifth [[President of Northern Cyprus]] from 2020 to 2025. He previously served as the fourth [[Prime Minister of Northern Cyprus]] following the collapse of [[Tufan Erhürman]]'s coalition government in 2019, and remained so until his election as president.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cyprus-mail.com/2019/05/23/clash-in-north-over-direction-of-cyprus-problem/|title=Clash in north over direction of Cyprus problem|author=Evie Andreou|date=23 May 2019|access-date=26 May 2019|archive-date=26 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526115242/https://cyprus-mail.com/2019/05/23/clash-in-north-over-direction-of-cyprus-problem/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was also the leader of the [[National Unity Party (Northern Cyprus)|National Unity Party]] (UBP) and [[Leader of the Opposition]] from 2018 until his election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.t-vine.com/ersin-tatar-is-the-new-leader-of-trnc-main-opposition-the-national-unity-party/|title=Ersin Tatar is the new leader of TRNC main opposition, the National Unity Party |work=T-VINE|access-date=26 May 2019}}</ref>

== Early life == Tatar comes from a family of [[Crimean Tatars]] who left [[Crimea]] in the 19th century and eventually moved to Cyprus.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 October 2020 |title=Kırım Tatar Kökenli Ersin Tatar'ın Cumhurbaşkanlığını Kutluyoruz |trans-title=We celebrate the presidency of Ersin Tatar, of Crimean Tatar origin |url=https://www.kirimdernegi.org.tr/haberler/1236-kirim-tatar-kokenli-ersin-tatar-in-cumhurbaskanligini-kutluyoruz |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228205032/https://www.kirimdernegi.org.tr/haberler/1236-kirim-tatar-kokenli-ersin-tatar-in-cumhurbaskanligini-kutluyoruz |archive-date=28 December 2023 |access-date=28 December 2023 |website=kirimdernegi.org.tr |language=tr}}</ref> Tatar was born in [[Nicosia]] on 7 September 1960, the son of Canev and Rüstem Tatar.<ref name="Milliyet">{{cite news |date=18 October 2020 |title=KKTC Cumhurbaşkanı Ersin Tatar kimdir, kaç yaşında ve nereli? |trans-title=Who is the President of the TRNC, Ersin Tatar? How old is he and where is he from? |url=https://www.milliyet.com.tr/gundem/ersin-tatar-kimdir-kac-yasinda-ve-nereli-6327521 |access-date=18 October 2020 |work=Milliyet}}</ref> His father was also a politician.<ref name="Barron's">{{cite news |title=New Turkish Cypriot Leader Tatar Backed By Erdogan |url=https://www.barrons.com/news/new-turkish-cypriot-leader-tatar-backed-by-erdogan-01603043105?tesla=y |access-date=18 October 2020 |work=Barron's |date=18 October 2020}}</ref> He was sent to England to attend [[Forest School, Walthamstow|Forest School]], a private boarding school in [[Walthamstow]],<ref name="Milliyet"/><ref name="Sunday Telegraph">{{cite news |last1=Mendick |first1=Robert |title=N Cyprus to airlift citizens from London |url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-sunday-telegraph/20200614/281646782382045 |access-date=18 October 2020 |work=Sunday Telegraph |date=14 June 2020}}</ref> then earned an economics degree from [[Cambridge University]]'s [[Jesus College, Cambridge|Jesus College]] in 1982.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web | url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/ersin-tatar-kimdir-ersin-tatarin-biyografisi-41222855 | title=Ersin Tatar kimdir? Ersin Tatar'ın biyografisi| date=23 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenationalherald.com/cyprus_politics/arthro/turkish_cypriot_official_sees_brexit_helping_cyprus_reunification-255375/|title=Turkish-Cypriot Official Sees Brexit Helping Cyprus Reunification|website=The National Herald|access-date=18 October 2020|archive-date=23 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023033211/https://www.thenationalherald.com/cyprus_politics/arthro/turkish_cypriot_official_sees_brexit_helping_cyprus_reunification-255375/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Pre-politics career == From 1982 to 1986, Tatar worked as a chartered accountant for [[PriceWaterhouse]] in London. From 1986 to 1991, he worked for [[Polly Peck]], and was the company's assistant treasurer when it collapsed with debts of £1.3 billion.<ref name="BBC News">{{cite news |title=Asil Nadir employee 'tore up transfer evidence' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17929978 |access-date=18 October 2020 |work=BBC News |date=2 May 2012}}</ref> In the resulting trial that led to CEO [[Asil Nadir]] receiving a 10-year jail term, it was alleged that Tatar had "assisted Mr. Nadir in the dishonest movement of money from PPI and enjoyed a close working relationship with the Polly Peck boss".<ref name="BBC News"/> When Tatar visited the UK in 2019, for the first time since 1991, there was concern that he might be arrested for his role in the scandal; however, the government's [[Serious Fraud Office (United Kingdom)|Serious Fraud Office]] said that this was "no longer in the public interest".<ref name="T-Vine">{{cite news |title=TRNC PM Ersin Tatar arrives in London without incident |url=http://www.t-vine.com/trnc-pm-ersin-tatar-arrives-in-london-without-incident/ |access-date=18 October 2020 |work=T-Vine |date=29 November 2019}}</ref>

In 1991, Tatar moved to [[Ankara]], where he worked at FMC Nurol Defense Industry Co. until 1992. From 1992 to 2001, he was the general coordinator of [[Show TV]], a Turkish television channel owned by [[Ciner Media Group]].<ref name="Barron's" /> In 1996, he founded the television channel Kanal T in Nicosia.<ref name="Barron's" /> He was also an active member of the Cypriot diaspora community in Turkey, and was chair of the Istanbul Turkish Cypriot Cultural Association from 1997 to 2001.<ref name="auto" /><ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.t-vine.com/ersin-tatar-is-the-new-leader-of-trnc-main-opposition-the-national-unity-party/|title=Ersin Tatar is the new leader of TRNC main opposition, the National Unity Party – T-VINE}}</ref>

== Politics == Tatar entered politics in 2003, joining the [[National Unity Party (Northern Cyprus)|National Unity Party]] (UBP). He was first elected to Parliament in 2009, serving as [[Ministry of Finance of Northern Cyprus|Finance Minister]] under [[Derviş Eroğlu]] until his party's electoral defeat in 2013. He unsuccessfully ran for the UBP leadership in 2015, before running again and winning in 2018.<ref name="auto1"/> He voiced support for the [[2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria]] and said that Turkish Cypriots "are always on Turkey's side".<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 October 2019 |title=KKTC'den Barış Pınarı Harekatı'na destek |trans-title=Support from the TRNC for Operation Peace Spring |url=https://www.trthaber.com/haber/gundem/kktcden-baris-pinari-harekatina-destek-434885.html |website=www.trthaber.com}}</ref> He is a supporter of a [[Two-state solution (Cyprus)|two-state solution]] to the [[Cyprus dispute]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/cyprus-talks-cannot-last-forever-turkish-cypriot-pm-148742|title=Cyprus talks cannot last forever: Turkish Cypriot PM - Turkey News|website=Hürriyet Daily News|date=16 November 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lgcnews.com/tatar-promotes-two-state-solution/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927114725/https://www.lgcnews.com/tatar-promotes-two-state-solution/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=27 September 2019|title=North Cyprus News &#124; Tatar Promotes Two-State Solution|date=6 September 2019|website=North Cyprus News &#124; Online News for North Cyprus}}</ref>

One week before the [[2020 Northern Cypriot presidential election|2020 Northern Cyprus presidential election]], Tatar visited Turkey. After his arrival, he announced that he would be reopening the [[Varosha, Famagusta|Varosha]] beachfront with Turkish President [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]]'s blessing. The move to open Varosha, which had been closed to the public and guarded by [[Turkish Armed Forces|Turkish soldiers]] since the 1974 [[Turkish invasion of Cyprus]], attracted widespread condemnation both in Northern Cyprus and the [[Cyprus|Republic of Cyprus]], as well as the international community.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maraş'ın kısmen açılması, Kuzey Kıbrıs'ta seçimi nasıl etkiler? |trans-title=How would the partial reopening of Varosha affect the elections in Northern Cyprus? |url=https://www.bbc.com/turkce/haberler-dunya-54482827 |work=BBC News Türkçe}}</ref> His Deputy Prime Minister [[Kudret Özersay]] resigned, accusing of Tatar of stealing his idea; Özersay, who was the first to call for the reopening of Varosha under Turkish Cypriot control, said he was against Tatar's decision because he had turned the issue into a campaign matter ahead of the election.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://cyprus-mail.com/2020/10/07/ozersay-quits-as-deputy-pm-over-tatars-decision-on-varosha/|title=Özersay quits as 'deputy PM' over Tatar's decision on Varosha (Updated) &#124; Cyprus Mail|first=Peter|last=Michael|access-date=11 May 2021|archive-date=24 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524195320/https://cyprus-mail.com/2020/10/07/ozersay-quits-as-deputy-pm-over-tatars-decision-on-varosha/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Özersay was also a candidate in the election.<ref name="auto2"/> Özersay's resignation triggered a crisis that led to the government of Northern Cyprus dissolving just one week before the election. Attempting to deflect the accusations that the decision to reopen Varosha was not a campaign ploy on behalf of Turkey, Tatar said he made the decision in his capacity as Prime Minister and not as a candidate in the upcoming elections.<ref name="auto2"/> [[File:17-й саммит Организации экономического сотрудничества 2025.jpg|thumb|Group photo at the [[17th ECO Summit]] in [[Khankendi]], Azerbaijan, featuring Ersin Tatar, 4 July 2025]] In the second and final round of the election on 18 October 2020, Tatar received 51.69% of the vote whilst incumbent President [[Mustafa Akıncı]] received 48.31%, the closest ever margin in the history of Northern Cyprus.<ref name="election1">{{cite web |title=Ersin Tatar elected new Turkish Cypriot leader |website=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528170247/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/18/incumbent-wins-turkish-cypriot-presidential-runoff-exit-polls |archive-date=28 May 2023 |url-status=live |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/18/incumbent-wins-turkish-cypriot-presidential-runoff-exit-polls}}</ref> Tatar took office on 23 October.<ref name="election1" /> The election was marred by accusations that Turkey had interfered on Tatar's behalf.<ref>{{cite web |date=18 October 2020 |title=Akıncı: "Bu sonuç yaratıldı, elde edildi" |trans-title=Akıncı: "This result was created, it was achieved" |url=http://www.yeniduzen.com/akinci-bu-sonuc-yaratildi-elde-edildi-132782h.htm |accessdate=18 October 2020 |publisher=Yenidüzen}}</ref>

Tatar was decisively defeated in the [[2025 Northern Cypriot presidential election]] on 19 October 2025, receiving 35.81% of the vote while former Prime Minister [[Tufan Erhürman]] received 62.76%.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=19 October 2025 |title=Turkish Cypriots elect Tufan Erhurman in northern Cyprus polls |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/19/turkish-cypriots-elect-tufan-erhurman-in-northern-cyprus-polls |access-date=19 October 2025 |work=[[Al Jazeera]]}}</ref>

== Personal life == Tatar is married to Sibel Tatar, with whom he has two children.<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shutterstock.com/editorial/image-editorial/turkish-cypriot-election-nicosia-cyprus-11-oct-2020-10949480g|title=Sibel Tatar wife Ersin Tatar candidate prime Editorial Stock Photo - Stock Image &#124; Shutterstock|website=Shutterstock Editorial}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

{{commons category}} {{wikiquote}} {{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=[[Tufan Erhürman]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Prime Minister of Northern Cyprus]]|years=2019–2020}} {{s-aft|after=[[Ersan Saner]]}} {{s-bef|before=[[Mustafa Akıncı]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[President of Northern Cyprus]]|years=2020–2025}} {{s-aft|after=[[Tufan Erhürman]]}} {{s-end}}

{{Current Northern Cyprus Cabinet}} {{Prime Ministers of Northern Cyprus}} {{Presidents of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tatar, Ersin}} [[Category:1960 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from North Nicosia]] [[Category:People educated at Forest School, Walthamstow]] [[Category:Alumni of Jesus College, Cambridge]] [[Category:Cypriot expatriates in England]] [[Category:Turkish Cypriot expatriates in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Cypriot accountants]] [[Category:Presidents of Northern Cyprus]] [[Category:21st-century prime ministers of Northern Cyprus]] [[Category:Leaders of political parties in Northern Cyprus]] [[Category:Finance ministers of Northern Cyprus]] [[Category:Prime ministers of Northern Cyprus]] [[Category:National Unity Party (Northern Cyprus) politicians]] [[Category:Turkish Cypriot expatriates in Turkey]] [[Category:Deniers of the Armenian genocide]] [[Category:Crimean Tatars]]