“If the Majority is Ashamed, There is Still Hope for Society”
Soyer emphasised that while the recent events in the Assembly have caused even ordinary citizens to feel ashamed, those in power seem to lack any sense of shame. “Shame is one of the most fundamental aspects of being human“, he said. “So, if there are still people who feel ashamed of what has happened, and if a majority feels this way, it means there is hope for the future and for democratic life“.
“The UBP is Crumbling, Decaying, and Deteriorating”
Soyer compared the current situation with past governments and Speakership elections, highlighting a moment from 1998 when the UBP, with 25 seats, formed a coalition with the TKP (Communal Liberation Party) to achieve a 30-seat majority. In that instance, the UBP’s initial nominee for Speaker, Tansel Doratlı, received 25 votes in the first round but was not elected. After a short break, Doratlı withdrew, and Ertuğrul Hasipoğlu was nominated and subsequently elected. Doratlı stayed to cast his vote for Hasipoğlu, demonstrating what Soyer referred to as an honourable stance and a reflection of the UBP’s more principled mindset at that time. He remarked, “We used to have heated debates with them, but now, look where they are—crumbling, decaying, and deteriorating”.
“They Can’t Even Find an Excuse”
Soyer criticised the UBP for not issuing any formal statement regarding the parliamentary scandal. “There’s a proverb that says, ‘He who steals the minaret finds a reason for it,’ but they haven’t found any excuse for this shameful act. That’s why they haven’t made a statement—because there is no justification for it“.
“If the Majority Rejects You, You Are Rejected”
Soyer also responded to comments by Erhan Arıklı, the Chairman of the YDP (Rebirth Party) and a junior partner in the government. Arıklı had suggested that even if a candidate receives only one vote, they can be elected as Speaker. Soyer strongly disagreed, asking, “What nonsense is this? In a vote, both ‘yes’ and ‘no’ votes have equal weight. If the majority votes ‘no,’ it means you’re rejected. If a candidate receives 49 ‘no’ votes, are they still elected? ‘No’ votes are as valid as ‘yes’ votes. A politician, minister, or party leader cannot dismiss the will of the people like this. These people make loud nationalist declarations and boast about wielding swords against both the Greek side and the world. But what are their swords cutting? They are cutting down the democratic values, conscience, and morality that define the people“.
*Ferdi Sabit Soyer is a prominent Turkish Cypriot politician who served as the Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) from 2005 to 2009. He is a long-time member and former leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), a left-leaning political party that advocates for the reunification of Cyprus and cooperation with the international community. Soyer has been a vocal figure in the politics of Northern Cyprus, often speaking out on issues related to democracy, governance, and political integrity. Throughout his career, he has held various political roles and remains an influential voice in TRNC’s political discourse. [LGC News Ed.]
