CTP General Secretary Asım Akansoy, remarked, “If Ziya Öztürkler opens the General Assembly, CTP will respond as needed; the public will see exactly what stance we take on Monday“. Akansoy underscored that their engagement with organisations, unions, and associations remains active, saying, “We can navigate this challenging period through shared ideas and collaboration“. Yeniduzen reported.
Appearing on Kanal Sim’s News Meeting programme, Akansoy responded to questions from Ertuğrul Senova. He sharply criticised the stance of the UBP in Parliament, describing Ziya Öztürkler’s appointment as Speaker as a “fait accompli”. Akansoy noted that the UBP has proceeded independently, disregarding input from parliamentary lawyers, the Constitutional Court, and other prominent voices, leading to what he called a fragmented and weakened party structure.
He emphasised that the CTP’s response would be visible to all should Öztürkler initiate the Assembly session. “Our contacts with various organisations, unions, and associations continue, and we face a difficult period that can only be managed by pooling ideas and sharing perspectives”, Akansoy stated, highlighting the value of collective dialogue in assessing the situation.
Akansoy criticised the UBP’s actions in Parliament, suggesting that the party lacks clear direction. He also commented on the threats to democratic processes, referencing past unconstitutional attempts to undermine democracy through decrees and laws. “Corruption, injustice, and irregularities are rife”, he observed, stressing that Parliament, as an institution, is of vital importance to the entire community.
“If democracy is eroded within Parliament, the people will ultimately bear the cost, making this a matter of public concern”, Akansoy warned, noting that the societal impact could be severe. He proposed that the CTP and UBP should agree on a joint date for an early election to allow the public to decide. “If a party is struggling with internal issues, it must address them; if not, then it should turn to the ballot box”, he said, stressing the importance of an election.
Akansoy reiterated that this difficult period requires mutual understanding and collaboration with organisations, unions, and associations, and assured that discussions are ongoing. He described the situation as a struggle for self-governance for Turkish Cypriots and pledged to update the public on Monday and in the days that follow.