Front Page Headlines
Crisis again, Chaos again
The dismissal of Ali Pilli by (Prime Minister) Saner who had described him as the world’s best health minister only a week ago, the appointment of Ünal Üstel, who had himself been dismissed for his involvement in the “Private Jet” scandal, as his replacement, as well as the appointment of Resmiye Canaltay as the new Public Works Minister, has caused chaos. Speculation surrounding Pilli’s dismissal has once again shaken the public’s confidence in the country’s democracy.
Political tremor
Prime Minister Ersan Saner made changes in the cabinet, removing Health Minister Ali Pilli from duty and replacing him with Ünal Üstel. Saner appointed Resmiye Canaltay as the Minister of Public Works and Communications. The changes made at a time when the country was going through a critical period has caused both pain within the National Unity Party (UBP) and generated reactions from the public.
- PCR queue before resuming work – The phased relaxation of measures in line with the Council of Minister’s decision is starting today; employees of many sectors are returning to work. Long queues formed at testing centres yesterday and the day before as a result of the testing requirement every 15 days for employees of open sectors.
- Economic organisations platform to meet with Fuat Oktay tomorrow – The platform members will meet with Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay in Ankara. Cafer Gürcafer, who is head of the Cyprus Turkish Building Contractors’ Association and spokesman for the platform said they will hold a technical meeting with Oktay on the economic effects of the pandemic process and will be discussing what can be done for economic development.
Red Flag
Ali Pilli’s removal as Health Minister has caused big upheaval within UBP. The UBP’s Güzelyurt (Morphou) branch is outraged. Pages in support of Pilli were opened on social media. Pilli, meanwhile, has decided to wage a struggle. “I was offended by what the prime minister did. I learned that I was dismissed from the media. He did not inform me in person nor did he inform the president,” Pilli said. Despite telling his close associates he would be resigning from UBP, Pilli, after seeing the public’s support, announced he will stay on and fight back. Pilli’s goal is to topple Ersan Saner at an extraordinary congress to be held on March 14.
- Turkey is cheaper in 97 products, the TRNC in 12 – Havadis columnist Devrim Barçın proves that the “TRNC is cheaper than Turkey” claim is false.
- Fought back for two weeks – Dr Erdinç İnan, former head of the orthopaedics ward at the Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu Hospital, passed away due to Covid-19.
Swords drawn
Preparations for a party congress at UBP have begun following Ali Pilli’s dismissal. A group of MPs have started work to hold the congress in June. Speaking to Diyalog, Prime Minister Ersan Saner said normally the congress should be held in October but June was also a possible date.
- Long lines formed – Employees of sectors set to open today rushed to testing centres to get their PCR tests done.
Ingratitude
Our health is in the hands of “Jet Ünal”. UBP once again submitted to Ankara’s demand, removing the cabinet’s hardest working minister, Ali Pilli, from duty, and replacing him with “Jet Ünal”. Ali Pilli found out about his dismissal from a news ticker on TV. Pilli said: “I will never forget (YDP leader Erhan) Arıklı’s smile,” Pilli said, claiming that Ersan Saner had sacrificed him for the sake of keeping Arıklı happy. Pilli is replaced by Ünal Üstel, who is known for being involved in the private jet scandal. And the seat vacated by Üstel is filled by Resmiye Canaltay.
- 13 locally transmitted, 23 positive coronavirus cases in the north, 107 cases in the south…
Main News
Maraş (Varosha) to reopen to visitors on Monday
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security, Territory
OVERVIEW
The fenced-off town of Maraş (Varosha) was among the places reopened for visitors on Monday as part of the first phase of the relaxation of lockdown measures.
The Turkish Cypriot dailies reported that the recently opened beachfront of the fenced-off town, which has become a popular site for locals, will allow the entry of visitors. However, there has been no statement made by officials on the matter.
Most retail stores in the north were set to open for business on Monday, following a three-week lockdown implemented due to a surge in locally transmitted cases. Businesses will only be allowed to open for limited hours under strict health protocols.
The relaxation of measures also applies to Turkish Cypriot workers who cross to the south daily for work. The workers had been barred from crossing since early December due to the rise in Covid-19 cases in the south.
Turkish Cypriot authorities claimed that the workers had contributed to spreading the virus in the north but an epidemiological report issued earlier this month proved otherwise, raising suspicions that some of the restrictions may be politically motivated.
Under the previous restrictions, workers were allowed to cross to the south for work but would have to enter a 14-day mandatory quarantine upon their return to the north. A temporary arrangement to accommodate the workers at quarantine hotels so that they could keep on going to their jobs was introduced but few showed any interest.
Students studying in the south are also allowed to return to their schools. However, restrictions on crossings still apply to everyone else.
Meanwhile, unwanted scenes were experienced on Sunday as hundreds of employees queued up at testing centres, ignoring social distancing. All employees are required to undergo Covid-19 tests every 14 days.
Pilli’s dismissal draws reactions from within UBP
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
The Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersan Saner’s decision to dismiss Ali Pilli as health minister continued to draw reactions from all sides of the political spectrum on Sunday, including criticism from MPs from within Pilli’s own National Unity Party (UBP).
UBP MP Yasemin Öztürk criticized Saner’s decision, stating that no matter what his excuse was, the timing was incorrect. “You don’t change horses mid-race,” Öztürk said, adding that the time had come to hold an extraordinary congress.
UBP MP Faiz Sucuoğlu, who has intentions of running for party leader at the next party congress, questioned Saner’s motives for dismissing Pilli. Like Öztürk he also argued that it was wrong for Saner to replace Pilli during the pandemic. He said he did not agree with Saner’s excuse that Pilli was experiencing exhaustion.
UBP MP Zorlu Töre reiterated the same viewpoints, adding that Saner’s decision to remove Pilli was “wrong and unethical.” Announcing his candidacy for the UBP’s leadership, Töre said Saner should call for a party congress by June the latest.
Saner, meanwhile, defended his decision on Sunday. Speaking to TV2020, Saner said he stands behind his decision as “Pilli looked exhausted during the cabinet meetings.” Saner also noted that the party congress will be held in October. A Facebook fanpage for Ali Pilli exceeded 14,000 followers on Sunday.
The UBP’s Güzelyurt (Morphou) branch also announced it will stage a protest in the town, which is Pilli’s electoral district, on Monday morning. Pilli in a written statement issued on Sunday evening said that he had worked hard for the public’s health and despite all criticism, believed he had been successful.
He expressed his disappointment at Saner as well as attempts to smear his accomplishments. Pilli said that, despite allegations, he had not abused his post in any manner.
The former health minister also took a swipe at the Rebirth Party (YDP) and Democratic Party (DP), criticizing their stance. He acknowledged and thanked the UBP’s previous coalition partner, the People’s Party (HP) for its contributions to managing the crisis last year.
In another development, the coronavirus claimed another life in the north, bringing the total tally to 23 in the north. 82-year-old Dr Erdinç İnan, the former head of the orthopaedics ward at the Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu hospital, who was being treated for coronavirus since February 7, passed away on Sunday.