In a new section of Yeniduzen, called ‘Young Corner’, Dünay Laçin Sonay writes about the disillusioned youth of North Cyprus and how many look to emigrate in the hopes of a better future elsewhere. She laments the deadlock in the Cyprus issue and the lack of political will, leading to what she calls a brain drain.
In observing the young person’s frustration with the current state of affairs in North Cyprus, it becomes clear that her sentiments are deeply rooted in the broader failures of the UBP-led government. She sees in her peers a growing sense of disillusionment, not just with the government, but with the pervasive sense of stagnation and the lack of employment opportunities. Under the leadership of the UBP and its coalitions, North Cyprus has seen years of political instability and economic mismanagement.
The UBP, while holding a significant role in North Cyprus politics, has faced repeated accusations of prioritising populist rhetoric over actionable policies. For example, promises to address the island’s critical energy problems by connecting it to Turkey via an undersea cable have been viewed by experts as impractical given the region’s infrastructure limitations. Meanwhile the cost of electricity has soared following an agreement with private electricity supplier AKSA, this outcome was predicted by the Electrical Workers Union El-Sen. Healthcare is another issue brought about by lack of staff, a shortage of state run clinics and problems accessing medicines. Meanwhile, such initiatives are often seen as empty promises, designed to maintain political support rather than create genuine progress. These shortcomings have led to frustration, particularly among the youth, who feel that their future is being compromised.
Furthermore, the economic challenges exacerbated by the global situation have revealed deeper systemic issues. The lack of funds, rising costs, and an over-reliance on Turkish financial support have left many Turkish Cypriots struggling to meet basic needs, such as public sector salaries.
With these ongoing struggles, the author of the article and her generation are beginning to feel like their aspirations for a better future are slipping away under a government that seems more reactive than visionary.
In this context, the UBP’s governance is increasingly seen as disconnected from the everyday realities of the people. The young person’s dissatisfaction isn’t just an isolated reaction but part of a broader societal critique of a government that has failed to address longstanding issues in a meaningful way. She, like many, is yearning for change—both in leadership and in the country’s trajectory.
Sonay is promoting the CTP which supports a federal solution to the Cyprus problem. Many people are longing for change in a country that while supported financially by Turkey, is also fettered by its connections to it.
CTP – 2013-2016
When the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) was last in power, they aimed to implement reforms around population and migration, particularly addressing the influx of settlers from mainland Turkey. These reforms included plans for a comprehensive population census to bring clarity to demographic concerns. However, the census faced logistical and political obstacles, and a standoff with Turkey over financial aid further hampered progress. The CTP’s refusal to sign Turkey’s economic protocol, which came with austerity conditions, resulted in a withholding of crucial funds. Consequently, many of their initiatives, including migration monitoring, remained unrealised.
The census did not fully materialise during their tenure, partly due to internal opposition and the complex relationship with Turkey, which exerts considerable influence over North Cyprus. Additionally, the growing number of university students and the issuance of new citizenships by authorities further complicated the demographic landscape.
These unrealised reforms under CTP leadership fed into the broader criticisms of governance in North Cyprus, especially concerning the failure to manage the socio-political impacts of unchecked migration. The current coalition led by the UBP (National Unity Party) has inherited many of these issues, and the situation has further deteriorated, increasing public frustration with what many see as a lack of control over the island’s demographic future.
In the absence of a solution to the Cyprus problem, be it federation or two separate independent states, the next government whichever they may be, will face all the same problems, particularly if the TRNC continues to hold the same currency as Turkey. Part of the TRNC’s economic woes, apart from lack of direct trade and direct flights, is that the Turkish Lira has devalued over the years. As it stands, the TRNC’s fortunes are closely linked to that of Turkey’s.
All this leads to the conclusion that today’s Turkish Cypriot youth face a rather bleak future unless there is a sea change in the country’s politics and its fortunes.
LGC News Editor
