Political Dispute Sparks Calls for Early Elections

North Cyprus News - Deputy PM Erhan Arikli
[Minister of Public Works and Transport – Erhan Arıklı]
Following a contentious vote in the General Assembly, Minister of Public Works and Transportation Erhan Arıklı addressed the press, stating that there was disagreement among political groups regarding the election of the Speaker of the Assembly, BRTK reported. To resolve the issue, a formal opinion from the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, the state’s legal authority, would be sought the next day.

Arıklı emphasised that the internal regulations of the Assembly must be followed, rejecting any suggestions that Zorlu Töre, a candidate in the election, tampered with the results. According to him, the Chief Public Prosecutor’s opinion would be binding on all parties, clarifying any legal uncertainties. However, Arıklı expressed a personal view that the regulations were flawed. He argued that, according to the current rules, even a candidate receiving just one vote in the fifth round of voting could still be declared the winner. This view was supported by some legal professionals within the Assembly.

When asked about potential outcomes if the Chief Public Prosecutor’s opinion were unfavourable, Arıklı indicated that the ruling party, UBP, would convene to select a new candidate. He downplayed concerns about exceeding the ten-day deadline for electing a Speaker, referencing past instances where delays occurred. Arıklı also dismissed speculation about a fracture within the government, asserting that some MPs may have voted negatively but not in a way that threatened the coalition’s unity.

North Cyprus News - Tufan Erhurman
[Leader of CTP – Tufan Erhürman]
On the other side, Tufan Erhürman, Chairman of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), lambasted the whole affair and firmly called for early elections, insisting that the country’s only way forward was to return to the polls. He criticised the decision to consult the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, stating that there was no legal basis for seeking an opinion on the election outcome. According to Erhürman, the minutes clearly showed that Töre had failed to secure enough votes in the fifth round of voting.

Erhürman described the situation as a “farce“, claiming that games were being played during the final stages of the election. He dismissed the notion that a single affirmative vote in a 50-member parliament could result in someone being elected Speaker, calling it an absurd interpretation of parliamentary rules.

The CTP leader argued that the country was spiralling into a political crisis, which had only been exacerbated by recent events. He reiterated that the demand for early elections had long been brewing and that the political system, as it stood, was dragging the country into further instability. According to Erhürman, holding fresh elections would benefit both the public and the political establishment.

BRTK

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