Northern Cypriot parliament headed for early elections

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is set to head for early general elections on Jan. 7, 2018.

By a vote of 38-2, the TRNC parliament Monday passed a motion greenlighting early elections submitted by the National Unity Party (UBP), which leads the coalition government, and main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhurman.

Under the motion, general elections originally planned for July 2018 have been moved up seven months to Jan. 7.

Since its last general elections held in January 2013, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has experienced three different coalition governments with three separate prime ministers.

There are currently 50 seats in the TRNC Parliament, with the CTP holding a plurality of 20 seats.