Rauf Denktaş was the first and founding president of Northern Cyprus, and retired in 2005.

His position was taken over by Mehmet Ali Talat, followed by Derviş Eroğlu,[2] then Mustafa Akıncı, and the current president, Ersin Tatar.

[3] The presidency is not a ceremonial position in the semi-presidential political system of Northern Cyprus.

The president reserves the right to dismiss the Assembly of the Republic in case a government cannot be formed within sixty days or three successive governments receive votes of no confidence.

They also can preside over the Council of Ministers if they wish to do so, approve the appointments of the judges and president of the Supreme Court and have the right to send laws approved by the Assembly of the Republic to the Supreme Court.