Front Page Headlines
“What needs to be cleaned is politics itself”
Serdar Denktaş said he hoped this incident will constitute an opportunity to clear politics and that we won’t witness similar games or projects in the future. The paper provides a graph showing the results of a mini-survey regarding the public’s confidence and trust in politics. According to the survey carried out with Yenidüzen readers, the majority of people believe that the coalition government ended because of Özersay’s ambitions for the presidency and Turkey’s interference in the country’s politics.
- HP (Peoples’ Party) leader Özersay: “We do not wish to hold early elections” – What we said, in the beginning, was that we would not enter a coalition with an UBP led by Özgürgün (former UBP leader). We kept that promise.
I am not going to be part of the new government even if DP is in
Serdar Denktaş said he will not take part in the new government and added he has never given up on his ideals.
- Four-party coalition established despite recommendations – Kudret Özersay responded to allegations the People’s Party is acting based on recommendations and advice from outside, reminding that the four-party coalition was established against advice not to form it.
UBP most willing, others cautious
Following Erhürman’s resignation, all focused on the political parties. National Unity Party (UBP) is willing and excited whereas the others are cautious.
- [HP] Gave up on the government based on preaching from abroad – Serdar Denktaş accused Kudret Özersay of deciding to leave the government rather than staying on to fight corruption.
- We don’t act based on preaching from abroad – Kudret Özersay rejected allegations that the People’s Party (HP) received orders from abroad to withdraw from the government.
Organized business
Serdar Denktaş accused the People’s Party of being the ‘weakest link’ in politics, adding he has not seen such dirty politics throughout his 30 year-long political career.
- Four-party coalition ended with Denktaş’ resignation – Kudret Özersay rejected allegations on the People’s Party ending the coalition, adding it collapsed the moment Denktaş resigned.
There is chaos
Erhürman submitted the government’s resignation in 12 hours but the President has yet to assign someone the task of forming a government.
- Politics have become dirty – Serdar Denktaş, who was seriously critical (of developments), argued that the coalition collapsed as a result of a campaign launched against him by the government.
- My conscience is clear – Özersay said that they refrained from laying blame on anyone for the collapse of the government. He said that the issue was not personal but a problem of mentality.
An army of trouble-stirring informants
Serdar Denktaş, the key figure who opened the way for a new government by resigning, claimed that if Turkey disliked him it was because of trouble-stirring informants in the country.
- Kudret Özersay: It was already over with that resignation– HP leader Özersay said: I am saddened by the collapse of the government. The issue is neither about Mr Serdar nor his son. I do not have any problems with either of them. The problem is not abandoning this mentality in this country.
- Imamoğlu arrives – Ekrem İmamoğlu (Istanbul Mayor candidate) who conducted his first trip abroad to the TRNC in line with established practice, will meet with Mustafa Akıncı today.
- Court for children in the South – Draft legislation presented to GC House of Representatives to set up courts for children.
- 40 million Euros for Turkish property in South – Papas, who purchased a property from its Turkish Cypriot owner, is demanding 40 million Euros from the Greek Cypriot government.
Main News
Blame game intensifies between Denktaş and Özersay
Yeni Düzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
Speculation on new possible coalition scenarios in the North dominated the lead stories in the newspapers on Saturday.
Following Prime Minister Tufan Erhürman’s resignation on Thursday, the widespread belief in the Turkish Cypriot community is that People’s Party (HP) leader Kudret Özersay withdrew from the four-party coalition based on recommendations and instructions from abroad.
Democratic Party (DP) leader Serdar Denktaş reiterated the same viewpoint during a press conference on Friday. Denktaş accused Özersay of abandoning the four-party coalition while he could have stayed on and continued to fight against corruption. Denktaş added, “Instead, the HP leader, upon instructions from abroad, chose to leave the government.”
Özersay for his part rejected the allegations. Speaking to public broadcaster BRT, Özersay said that HP would not have entered a four-party coalition in the first place had it been acting on instructions as claimed. Özersay underlined that HP had entered a coalition to fight against and prevent corruption.
He said they left the moment they believed they could no longer deliver their promises to the people.
Özersay also emphasized that the coalition fell due to Denktaş’ resignation and not due to HP’s withdrawal.
On the other hand, the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) General Secretary Erdoğan Sorakın rejected claims CTP could form a coalition with the National Unity Party (UBP).
He said that his party believed “those who withdrew from the coalition should form the next coalition” in his statement to Kıbrıs.
Speaking to the same paper, Social Democratic Party (TDP) General Secretary Halil Hızal said TDP will continue its struggle to protect the rights of the Turkish Cypriots by remaining in opposition. He noted that the TDP party assembly has yet to produce an official position on the matter.
Kıbrıs reports that HP, DP and Re-birth Party (YDP) have not decided on their positions regarding a possible coalition.
Yenidüzen also publishes the results of a mini-survey conducted online. According to 920 participants, the majority of people believe that the coalition government collapsed due to HP leader Özersay’s personal ambitions for the presidency as well as Turkey’s interference in Turkish Cypriot politics.
20 Syrian migrants picked up in Morphou
Yenidüzen, Havadis, Kıbrıs, Kıbrıs Postası, Diyalog
Migration & Citizenship
OVERVIEW
Police in Morphou discovered and detained 20 Syrian migrants who were hiding in a citrus orchid in Gayretköy (Avlona) on Friday. The migrants told the police they were planning a way to cross over to the southern part of the island.
Police also found the boat used to transfer the migrants hidden among olive trees behind a petrol station in Mevlevi (Kyra) village. The owner of the boat Mücahit Özmen was also detained by police.
The Turkish Cypriot Red Crescent delivered food and supplies to the Syrian refugees.
CMP launches new excavations
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) deployed a bicommunal team of experts to carry out excavations at a site in Mutluyaka (Stylloi). It is reported that the CMP team has already started to recover human remains at the site in a statement issued by CMP on Friday.
The CMP renewed its plea to all communities on the island to support CMP’s work by providing information on possible burial sites. The CMP has recovered the remains of 16 individuals in 2019 so far.