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In a political race already full of surprises, Turkish Cypriot academic Mehmet Hasgüler, running as an “independent candidate” for the “presidency” in the north, has stirred headlines with a mix of bold promises, eccentric charm, and calls for peace.
Hasgüler says that if elected, he’ll work to return the fenced-off city of Varosha (Varos), in Famagusta, to its rightful Greek Cypriot owners, a move that would mark the first real breakthrough in decades on the Cyprus issue.
"...it’s time to “let women run things; we’ve already seen what men have done.”
Speaking to a Turkish Cypriot news agency, Hasgüler said he would sit down with President Nikos Christodoulides to reopen Varosha as part of what he called an “interim solution", a step that, he believes, could help unlock the broader property disputes that have kept the island divided since 1974.
“I’ll do what others haven’t dared, meet with the president and fulfill our obligations,” he said, describing his approach as “decompression before reunification.”
A Federal Vision and a Rejection of Two States
Unlike many of his political rivals, Hasgüler backs a bizonal, bicommunal federation as the only viable path forward, a position in line with long-standing UN resolutions. He dismissed the idea of a two-state solution, calling it a dead end that isolates Turkish Cypriots further from the international community.
Referring to the historic Zurich-London agreements that established the Republic of Cyprus, he said, “Those agreements are our title deed, the proof of our right to coexist.”
Promises and Personality
Hasgüler’s campaign has also drawn attention for its blend of populism and humor. Calling himself “crazy, but not insane,” he promised a leadership style rooted in simplicity and service. Among his pledges: selling two official cars to buy ambulances, donating half of his salary to children who go to school hungry, and commuting by bicycle, noting he’s never owned a car.
He said he would not seek a second term if elected, vowing to make his presidency “short, loud, and useful.” His first trip abroad, he added, would be to Baku, not Brussels or Ankara, “to balance Israel,” which he described as a growing regional threat.
Women in Charge and ‘Taking to the Streets’
Hasgüler also promised to appoint women to all top government positions, saying it’s time to “let women run things; we’ve already seen what men have done.” He said he would “take to the streets” to fight for transparency, fairness, and a more socially responsible administration.
Whether voters take him seriously remains to be seen. But in a region weary of the same political faces and stalemates, Mehmet Hasgüler’s campaign, quirky, idealistic, and defiant, has at least one thing going for it: people are talking.
