Mehmet Harmancı was born in 1977 in Nicosia. Harmancıcompleted his Master’s degree on EU and Politics in Liverpool at the John Moores University. He started his political career in the Communal Liberation Party (TKP) and subsequently joined the pro-Annan Plan alliance Peace and Democracy Movement (BDH). Following the merger of these two parties, Harmancı served various roles at the social democratic Communal Democracy Party (TDP), including as the party’s Secretary General. Harmancı was also active in civil society and managed various internationally funded projects in northern Cyprus, including the “Engage Project” implemented by the Management Centre of the Mediterranean. Between 2005-2008, he worked as the General Director of a private tourism company which was selected many times as the ‘Best Tour Operator’ in northern Cyprus.