Photos: CTP / Giota Chatzikosta
The pre-election campaign in the occupied territories is coming to an end, with the “parliamentary” elections taking place on Sunday, January 23rd. The Turkish Cypriots, this time with more discreet interventions from Turkey – mainly due to the economic instability and the political scene as it has been formed – will go to the polls at a time when the economic situation and the occupied territories, mainly due to the devaluation of the Turkish pound at the worst level of 20 years. The Cyprus issue, on the other hand, is on the verge of collapse, with Ersin Tatar saying at every opportunity that he is only discussing a two-state solution. The Covid-19 pandemic, of course, causes an additional headache, with cases in the occupied areas reaching almost 1000 every day, while deaths are announced and hospitals are on the verge of collapse.
National Unity Party: Hardly loses the lead
According to opinion polls conducted by companies, the National Unity Party (KEE – Ersin Tatar's party) will hardly lose the lead over the second Republican Turkish Party, because of Tatar's close ties with Turkish President and Turk Vice President, it is believed that it is a guarantee for financial support of the occupiers, since they are financially dependent on Turkey. In addition, although the bet for the KEE is to win the elections by a majority, political analysts nevertheless believe that even if it does not win by a wide margin, there will be support from another party, with the question remaining in this case mainly what to do. the People's Party led by Kudret Ozersay.
Erdogan – Oktay, Sucuoglu saw – Ankara sent a message
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan met in Ankara with “Prime Minister” Faiz Sucuoglu during his first “official” visit since taking office. Earlier, Mr. Sutsuoglu also met with Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay, with the “prime minister” of the occupied territories stating that they had initially had the opportunity to consult with Fuat Oktay on economic and financial issues, infrastructure projects and other technical issues. Sutsuoglu said: “After spending the budget, if we had not passed the 2022 budget, we would have had much more problems and suffering. However, Turkish Cypriot circles interpreted the visit as a way for Tayyip Erdogan to show his support for Turkey in the run-up to the elections in the north and therefore as an intervention of Ankara in the ongoing election campaign.
Will he leave if Erhiurman loses?
Tufan Erhiurman will hardly remain at the helm of the Republican Turkish Party if his party loses the “elections”, according to sources close to the left-wing party, while the RTK is focusing on two main pillars of its election campaign. Firstly, the economic misery that plagues the occupied territories and secondly, the Cyprus problem, which is on the ice and without the prospect of resuming talks, due to the intransigence of Ersin Tatar.
Mr. Erhiurman said in an interview on Wednesday that the roadblocks of Ledra Deryneia, Aplikio were opened during the period when his party was in power and after January 23, an attempt will be made to open the border gates of Famagusta, Paphos and Louroutzina. Under the RTK government, he also participated in the “Private Square” program prepared and presented by Mustafa Alkan and made assessments of the issues on the agenda. Making statements about the early general elections that will be held on January 23, Erhiurman stressed that they would turn the Turkish Cypriot “people”, in his expression, from the edge of the abyss into which he was dragged. As far as the economy is concerned, he was in favor of the euro, but without the Turkish pound being abolished, a debate that has recently opened and will, according to economists, concern the Turkish Cypriots in the future, even though Turkey is against such a possibility.
It should be noted that eight parties have nominated 50 candidates in six provinces for the upcoming “parliamentary” elections of January 23, 2022.
The eight parties that will take part in the “early parliamentary elections” are:
- National Unity Party (UBP),
- Republican Turkish Party (CTP),
- People's Party (HP),
- Party of Socialist Democracy (TDP),
- Democratic Party (DP), Renaissance Party (YDP),
- Community Liberation Party – New Forces (TKP-YG), Independent Road (BY).
