A clear result with the predominance of the National Unity Party (KEE) and a spectacular rise of the Republican Turkish Party (RTK) records the result of the “elections” in the occupied territories. A rather expected result that does not change the current political situation, since its importance is focused on the changes of the party map with the reunification of traditional parties, through the repatriation of votes and the weakening of small parties, such as the Community Democracy Party founded Mustafa Akinci, who failed to enter parliament, and Kudret Ozersay's People's Party, which saw a dramatic drop in rates. In essence, the RTK took back the voters who had chosen the Community Democracy Party and the People's Party in other procedures, while the KEE also took a percentage from the People's Party.
In the “Parliament” the right and center-right parties prevail, with the RTK remaining only, but empowered in the representation of the progressive voice, which is traditionally in favor of the solution of the Cyprus problem at the DDO base, while the Right enjoys seemingly and logically comfortable movements, since result allows the conclusion of partnerships for “government” with a comfortable majority.
The “prime minister” Faiz Soutsouoglu, who is considered a right-wing politician of the Eroglu school, did not open his papers, after all the next days will be decisive for the formation of a “government”, which will logically be concluded between or a combination of KEE, Democratic Party, Party of the Renaissance, while it is not excluded that the People's Party will also seek a role in it. A lot of information sees the light of day, even for cooperation with RTK, however, such a thing is extremely unlikely and contrary to what RTK stands for, given the positions of the KEE in the Cyprus issue.
The boycott failed
Despite the long abstention, it was not attributed to the election boycott movement that supported small parties outside the “Parliament”, placed in the Left and Center-Left, which only managed to strengthen bipartisanship by rallying voters in the two major parties. The abstention is attributed primarily to the trend of the time, reinforced by the fear of the spread of the coronavirus, but also to the anger in relation to the economic crisis that plagues the occupied territories, which has a substantial impact on every household. A small portion of voters is added, which is occupied by intense frustration with the lack of developments in the Cyprus issue, the solution of which could be a way out of Ankara's increasingly suffocating impositions, but also in improving the standard of living of Turkish Cypriots.
The role of Akinci
Only the leader of the Community Democratic Party, Cemal γιzgγίτt, took responsibility for the sinking of the small parties, who resigned the day after the “elections”. His party has always had low turnout, despite the fact that former T / C leader Mustafa Akinci came from his ranks, who was twice supported in “presidential” elections by progressive T / C voters and other parties, and especially of PTK. This fact alone shows that Mr. Akinci is a form of general acceptance with influence in the Center-Left.
Mustafa Akinci's stance during the election campaign was not, however, supportive of his party. On the contrary, his complete absence from the election campaign played a decisive role in the sinking of the KKD. Mr. Akinci, indirectly, but very clearly, supported the boycott movement of the “elections”, although he was never clearly in favor of it. It is indicative that the former leader of the T / C chose not to appear in public even on the day of the “elections”. He did vote, but in secret, without announcing when he would do it, without making statements, as is usually done in such cases by politicians, and especially of the scope and influence that Mustafa Akinci has in a significant portion of T / C .
Analysts and journalists in the occupied territories estimate that this attitude of the former Turkish Cypriot leader is not interpreted so much as support for the movement of small and “extra-parliamentary” parties for a boycott, but as a result of his personal bitterness from the previous “presidential” election process. from which he lost to Ersin Tatar after underground interventions by Turkey to undermine him and reinforce Tatar with anti-democratic methods, which surpassed all previous ones. After all, Mr. Akinci from the day after the “presidential” had announced that he was retiring from the political scene, stating that he did what was possible and had a clear conscience. It is clear that words put into practice. Mr Akitzi handed over the weapons.
The favorite for the successor situation after Ozgit's departure is Mehmet Harmatzi, mayor of occupied Nicosia, a member of the party with wider influence over the progressive Turkish Cypriots.
The scene is the same
Apart from party interest, nothing. The day after the “elections” finds the occupied areas at the exact same point as before in relation to the Cyprus issue. In the predominance of the position for a two-state solution and in the attempt to consolidate this logic, with the argument that the persistence in a discussion about something that was tried and failed does not work anywhere.
Already, Ersin Tatar, strengthened by the result of the “elections”, deleted the prospect of the adoption of the Famagusta MOE against the press proposed by the Greek Cypriot side.
The Greek Cypriots do this to create impressions in the international community, covering their own uncompromising attitude, but also mistakes in relation to EastMed, said the “presidency” more or less, describing the specific CU as inapplicable, and proposing cooperation for hydrocarbons, “which are accepted by all parties as belonging to both sides and will make a significant contribution to ensuring security and stability both on the island and in our region”.
The policy in relation to the Cyprus issue is expected to continue in this pattern, unless Turkey changes course – which is not visible – as both the KEE and Tatar himself are completely dependent on and led by the Erdogan government.
Crisis and the euro
As it became clear from the pre-election period, from the public opinion polls, but also from the result of the “elections”, what concerns the Turkish Cypriot community is not the Cyprus issue, nor at the moment the penetration of Ankara in the occupied territories. What dominates as an issue that needs to be addressed immediately is the financial crisis.
The Turkish Cypriots realize that it does not mean the survival of the community without the support of Turkey, especially without the prospect of resolving the Cyprus issue, but on the other hand they know very well that the problems are imported by Turkey.
The electorate was, in essence, distributed to those closest to Erdogan's government who have the key to unlocking funding for the occupiers, the National Unity Party, and to those who gave the alternative by thinking outside the box, using of the euro as a currency that will apply to transactions, but not to wages, ie the Republican Turkish Party.
The party of the Left now has to manage its pre-election commitments to promote this proposal from the floor of the “Parliament”, which is extremely difficult, not only in its implementation, but also in its acceptance first and foremost by Turkey.
The second pre-election commitment of the RTK was the pressure to open other roadblocks, something that is again connected with the economy, due to the attendance of E / K. Clearly easier in terms of processes, it enters the agenda first, again with a dubious result.
For the National Unity Party, things are much simpler, following the trampled, that is, the faithful obedience in the parliaments of Ankara.
