Front Page Headlines
Proposal to hold early elections on February 6, demand to carry out partisan acts
The National Unity Party (UBP)-Democratic Party (DP)-Rebirth Party (YDP) minority government failed to achieve the necessary quorum to convene parliament yesterday. While it was experiencing the attendance crisis, it tabled a proposal to hold early elections on February 6. However, it also proposed that election bans be delayed (to be able to carry out political favours ahead of the election). Parliament tried to convene for six hours but only 24 MPs managed to show up. The necessary quorum could not be reached. DP MP Serdar Denktaş and independent MP Bertan Zaroğlu did not attend the session locking the government. Parliament was postponed to today.
They failed to reach an agreement again
The government and the opposition reached an agreement to hold early elections on February 6, 2022, but experienced a disagreement on when to start election bans. The opposition proposed that election bans come into force, not two months before the election but from the date published in the official gazette or that a technocratic government be established. Prime Minister Saner did not welcome this proposal.
Tatar plunges head-on into a fight
The barring of some TRNC citizens into Turkey without providing a solid reason by Turkish officials has stirred politics in the country. Tensions ran high between the Office of the President and the opposition. President Ersin Tatar via social media blasted (Republican Turkish Party-CTP leader) Erhürman, accusing him of supporting those who accuse Turkey of being an invader and who insult Turkey. He accused him of using the issue for political gains. Erhürman responded to Tatar’s accusations during a programme on Havadis TV. “Are you aware of the post you are holding? Your language and method of addressing people are a disaster and when you look at the content it’s not possible to understand anything,” said the CTP leader.
The ‘(election) ban prevented (an agreement)
They met for hours and agreed to hold early elections on February 6 but failed to take a joint decision. While parliament failed to convene again yesterday following a three-month break, a meeting of the political party leaders to set a date for early elections also failed to achieve an outcome. While UBP leader and Prime Minister Ersan Saner agreed to the February 6 date proposed by CTP leader Tufan Erhürman and Peoples’ Party (HP) leader Kudret Özersay, he opposed the immediate start of election bans. Speaking to Diyalog, Erhürman and Özersay said that Saner had talked about starting election bans in December but that this was unacceptable. Both argued that taking such a decision would mean the government would continue to hand out citizenship, land and other means of political favours.
Here is the blacklist
We are publishing the first list we have obtained. (The entire front page contains pictures of 42 persons which the paper claims are barred from entering Turkey)
Main News
The European Commission is being unfair on TCs
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Havadis, Avrupa
Economy, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
The Undersecretary at the Turkish Cypriot Economy Ministry Şahap Aşıkoğlu on Monday said that Turkish Cypriots were being treated unfairly by the European Commission (EC) regarding the decision on the product designated origin (PDO) registration of Hellim (Halloumi).
Despite having entered into force on October 1, Turkish Cypriot dairy producers, sector representatives and officials have been crying foul on the PDO registration of the Cypriot cheese, claiming they are being subject to discrimination by the EC.
Speaking during a programme on Bayrak, Aşıkoğlu said the Greek Cypriot side did not follow the agreement reached between the two sides for marketing and selling Hellim (Halloumi) simultaneously.
“Not only the Greek Cypriot side backed down from the agreement, but the EC is also turning a blind eye to the issue,” Aşıkoğlu argued, urging that all in the north ranging from the authorities to sector representatives to raise their voice in Brussels.
“If not, we will not be able to sell any Hellim (Halloumi) and it will put us in severe economic problems,” he warned. Aşıkoğlu also said Bureau Veritas – the company tasked to prepare the producers for Hellim (Halloumi) exports – has yet to get in touch with any one of the stakeholders in the north even though they are about to complete their preparations in the south.
“What Bureau Veritas is doing is not acceptable,” he stressed, arguing that the current system which is designed in the south is not the one initially agreed upon. Noting that the biggest percentage of Turkish Cypriot exports are Hellim (Halloumi), Aşıkoğlu warned the Turkish Cypriot economy will be dealt a severe blow if the Turkish Cypriot producers are not able to sell their produce.
He noted that he will be briefing Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on the developments on Wednesday.
KEY ACTORS
Arıklı (YDP)
>> EC treating TC Hellim (Halloumi) producers unfairly.
>> EC turning a blind eye to GC producers violating an agreement on simultaneous production of hellim (Halloumi).
>> Failure to complete the PDO process will be disastrous for TC producers & the economy.
Debate on the ban of TCs from entering Turkey continues
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The issue concerning the banning of Ali Kişmir along with other Turkish Cypriots from entering Turkey on grounds they posed a threat to the country’s national security continues to stir the political agenda in the north sparking a new fracas between Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar and the leader of the main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhürman.
Responding to Tatar’s earlier remarks supporting Ankara’s decision to ban Kişmir from entering Turkey, Erhürman said the Turkish Cypriot leader was not aware of the weight and responsibility of the post he was holding.
Speaking during a programme on Havadis TV, Erhürman reminded Tatar that he was responsible for maintaining relations and dialogue with Turkish officials. “The person who was banned from entering Turkey and subsequently deported is your citizen. Certain Turkish Cypriots are being deliberately targeted,” Erhürman said, adding that Tatar needed to take action to solve this problem.
He added that as a Turkish Cypriot, he was deeply disappointed with the Turkish Cypriot leader’s reactions to the incident and the accusations he directed at him. Tatar had accused Erhürman of supporting those who attacked Turkey and of using the incident for political gains.
“Mr Tatar has once again failed to distinguish criticisms and insults. People are now hesitant about going to Turkey because Kişmir is the third person who had been subjected to such a treatment,” Erhürman stressed, urging the authorities to announce publicly who else is on the list of barred people.
He added that this was a demand put forward by all the political parties. “One cannot take Tatar’s remarks seriously but there is one thing for sure and that he has caused distrust within the community,” he said.
In the meantime, Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu chose to distance himself from the issue, brushing off any responsibility and claiming that countries had no obligation to publish lists of people they barred from entering its borders.
In a written statement issued on Monday, Ertuğruloğlu said that persons were free to apply to embassies of a country to inquire about their status. Concerning the latest issue, he argued that the incident had been manipulated and that Turkish Cypriot officials were unfairly being accused of not protecting the rights of its citizens.
“Rules for entry into Turkey like any other country are subject to laws ranging from security to immigration,” he said.
Pol. parties agree on February 6 for early elections
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
Speaker of the Turkish Cypriot parliament Önder Sennaroğlu on Monday said the political parties in the parliament had reached an understanding on holding on February 6 but failed to reach a consensus on when election bans on the use of state resources should come into effect.
Speaking to Turkish Cypriot news agency TAK, Sennaroğlu said that under normal conditions, election bans should start on December 6 but the opposition was insisting that the prohibitions should enter into force on the day the date for an early election is announced.
Speaking on the early election, People’s Party (HP) leader Kudret Özersay said his party had proposed to establish a technocratic government until the elections are held. “Even if we were to agree on a date, we insist that the government should be changed,” Özersay said in a social media post on Monday night.
He added the HP is concerned that the National Unity Party (UBP)-Democratic Party (DP)-Rebirth Party (YDP) coalition would pillage the state resources until the elections.
CTP leader Tufan Erhürman stressed that the prohibition period must enter into force on the day the date for an early election is published in the official gazette. Speaking to TAK on the issue, Erhürman said the government wants to be able to distribute citizenships, state lands and carry out other political favours until the bans are imposed on December 6.
“The opposition can’t approve such a proposal,” Erhürman said, adding that the parliament will try to convene on Tuesday to discuss the government’s proposal.