Front Page Headlines
Özersay flees, four-party coalition collapses
The CTP-HP-DP-TDP (Republican Turkish Party-Peoples’ Party-Democratic Party-Social Democracy Party) four-party coalition government led by (Tufan) Erhürman lasted 460 days. Backstage rumours are that a UBP (National Unity Party)-HP coalition is being planned. Özersay is said to run for the presidency with the support of UBP. Separate meetings held with (Kudret) Özersay and (Ersin) Tatar in Turkey as well as the Turkey-TRNC economic protocol and lack of funds spelt the end of the four-party government.
- “HP did the right thing. We shall evaluate the situation” – Ersin Tatar spoke to Yenidüzen.
Ends on the 460th day
The first ever four-party coalition lasted only 460 days. The two-week period leading to the People’s Party’s withdrawal from the coalition saw a number of manoeuvres from both Serdar Denktaş and Kudret Özersay.
- 65% of the subscribers paid less – KIBTEK (Turkish Cypriot Electricity Authority) claims the new tariff system is working well for 65% of the subscribers as they paid less for electricity compared to the old tariffs.
Government ends
Serdar Denktaş resigned; HP (People’s Party) said ‘enough is enough’. The file regarding the leasing of state-owned land, which was handed over to HP following claims that Serdar Denktaş unlawfully leased state land to the Rauf Denktaş University, broke up the four-party coalition. HP withdrew from the government on grounds that there were issues in the file that could not be tolerated. The coalition government led by Tufan Erhürman set up on February 2, 2018, lasted only 15 months. The claim that Serdar Denktaş used his authority to lease the land without a legal tender ruined relations between the coalition partners. Finance Minister Denktaş resigned from his post; HP leader Kudret Özersay said the four-party coalition has experienced a crisis of confidence, announcing his party’s decision to withdraw from the government following a vote of 55 to four in the party assembly.
The ropes snap
Coalition partner and DP leader Serdar Denktaş resigned, and HP withdrew from the four-party coalition. Erhürman will submit his resignation to the President at 10am. Coalition partners to meet on Thursday.
- Denktaş to hold a press conference – Serdar Denktaş will explain the reasons for his resignation following the Democratic Party (DP) party assembly meeting on Thursday.
- Özersay criticized Denktaş – People’s Party (HP) leader Kudret Özersay said there were land allocation cases under the Finance Ministry, which HP could not accept.
Four-party coalition collapses in 15 months
Özersay got the support of the party assembly to announce his party’s withdrawal from government.
- The process is being speeded up – Prime Minister Erhürman presenting his resignation to the President today.
- It is possible with HP – Tatar (UBP leader) gave the first signals for a new government following the collapse of the coalition.
- He will make an announcement today – Denktaş (DP leader) announced his resignation as Finance Minister just as the HP’s party assembly convened.
- A demand for hefty compensation – Three Greek Cypriot refugees apply to the European Court of Human Rights after Immovable Property Commission fails to produce a decision for a long period of time.
The game is over
I won’t play if I don’t want to…Does the ball not belong to me? Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu came and left…and the government collapsed. First Serdar Denktaş resigned as Finance Minister, then HP (Peoples’ Party) withdrew from the government. Kudret Özersay said: “The spirit of the four-party coalition has ended from this day onwards. It has collapsed on its own.”
- Turkey sending second ship for drilling – Energy wars continue.
Main News
Four-party coalition government in the North collapses
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
All six dailies report on the collapse of the four-party coalition government in the North as their lead stories.
Concern had been voiced regarding Serdar Denktaş abusing his position as finance minister to lease a plot of state-owned land to his son’s university named after his father. People’s Party (HP) leader Kudret Özersay complained publicly about Denktaş over this issue. As a result, Denktaş submitted his letter of resignation to Prime Minister Tufan Erhürman on Wednesday evening stating that he will not tolerate being attacked by others.
However, despite his resignation, Denktaş announced that his party would continue to support the coalition government. Several hours later, Özersay announced his party assembly’s decision to withdraw from the government, citing the land lease issue and a deepening crisis of trust and confidence among the coalition members as reasons for the withdrawal. An overwhelming majority of HP members voted in favour of withdrawing from the government, 55 in total, while only four members voted in favour of remaining in government.
Özersay added that his party will be deciding in the coming days on whether to remain as an opposition party or to hold coalition talks with other political parties in the coming days.
Following developments, Erhürman announced via social media he would be submitting his resignation to President Mustafa Akıncı at 10am on Thursday. The premier said there was no need to further delay the process as the country was is in need of stable governance during this time of crisis. Erhürman thanked his cabinet and bureaucrats in his message.
Main opposition National Unity Party (UBP) leader Ersin Tatar gave the signal on Wednesday that his party was ready for talks with HP.
He said that UBP and HP did not have any ideological differences, particularly on the Cyprus Problem. He added that the Turkish Cypriot people did not have the luxury of wasting time. Together with HP, we will have 30 MPs in parliament, Tatar concluded.
In a separate statement to Yenidüzen, Tatar said HP had done the right thing. It was not possible for the coalition government to continue whilst such claims regarding Serdar Denktaş were hanging in the air, he said.
While Social Democratic Party (TDP) leader Cemal Özyiğit has remained quiet, TDP General Secretary Halil Hızal commented on developments, saying HP was likely to form a coalition with UBP “based on recommendations from someone and from someplace.” TDP will call its party assembly for a meeting on Thursday before issuing an official statement, Hızal added.
The leader of the opposition Rebirth Party (YDP) Erhan Arıklı said that his party was ready to support a UBP-DP minority government.
Natural resources must lead to reconciliation not escalate tensions
Kıbrıs Postası, Havadis, Diyalog
Energy, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Teberrüken Uluçay, CTP MP and speaker of the Turkish Cypriot parliament, said on Wednesday that the island’s natural resources should be utilized for economic development and as a tool for reconciliation between the two sides. Collaboration models between the two sides should be developed on the issue, Uluçay added.
He reminded that the Turkish Cypriot side had repeatedly suggested collaborating on the natural gas issue with the Greek Cypriot side. The Turkish Cypriot side has been sensitive to utilizing the natural resources to the economic benefit of both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots, he said.
Uluçay also warned that the escalation of tensions in the region will lead to bigger problems. The natural resources must lead to reconciliation and not escalate tensions, he added.
National Unity Party (UBP) MP Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu said on Wednesday the drilling carried out by “Fatih” was an important advantage for the North during a TV programme on Diyalog TV.
Noting that the island has reached a critical juncture in the Cyprus problem, Hasipoğlu said that by signing a continental shelf delineation agreement with Turkey, the Turkish Cypriot side had created an area of its own sovereignty. Both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side have the political upper hand now, he said.
The Greek Cypriot side had complained to the United Nations on the issue but the response they received was that both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots had rights over the island’s natural resources, said Hasipoğlu.
“Moreover, the Greek Cypriot side cannot take any legal measures against the North, Turkey or even against the crew on board the drilling vessel. As a result, the Greek Cypriots will either learn to share the natural resources with the Turkish Cypriots or the Turkish Cypriot side will continue with its reciprocal drillings,” he said.
KEY ACTORS
Uluçay (CTP)
>> Island’s resources should be used for economic development and reconciliation.
>> TC side has been sensitive on utilizing natural resources for the economic benefit of both TCs and GCs.
>> Escalation of tensions in the region will lead to bigger problems. Resources must lead to reconciliation and not escalate tensions.
Hasipoğlu (UBP)
>> Drilling carried out by “Fatih” an important advantage for North.
>> Continental shelf delineation agreement with Turkey created an area of sovereignty for TC side.
>> GCs will either learn to share the natural resources with TCs or TC side will continue with its reciprocal drillings.