In the aftermath of the unofficial results of the early “parliamentary elections”, two experienced Turkish analysts analyze in KYPE the new data in the Turkish political scene. Lecturer Dilek Latif, a political scientist and internationalist at the “Middle East University”, shares her view on the abstention rate and the victory of the Turkish Cypriot Right. It also refers to the future of the T / C front of the solution. Journalist Aitug Turkkan analyzes the new correlation of the T / C political forces and talks about the winners and losers in the new confrontation.
Reading the results
Analyzing the results of the early “parliamentary elections”, Ms. Latif stressed the importance of a low turnout. “This is the highest percentage of abstention in the modern parliamentary history of the Turkish Cypriots,” the Turkish Cypriot scientist points out. Ms. Latif attributes the high abstention rate to a series of negative developments that have recently affected the Turkish Cypriot community, such as the ongoing financial crisis, the fuel crisis, perpetuating power outages and the rapid rise in the price of basic goods.
Two of my neighbors, with incomes in the basic salary category, shortly before the elections, pointed out to me that “[politicians] should do as they think and leave us alone.” “People like my neighbors, that is, those who do not belong to the upper middle class, say they have no hope of improving the whole situation,” she added.
Focusing on the victory of the Turkish Cypriot Right, Ms. Latif places at the center of the success of the Party of National Unity (KEE) the prevalence within the Turkish Cypriot community, in the past, of the view that “Turkish Cypriots need a party that will improve relations with Turkey. “
The T / C scientist adds that along with the KEE, the Republican Turkish Party (RTK) came out of the “ballot box” as the winner. According to Ms. Latif, the return of “borrowed votes” from the People's Party (KL) to the RLK played an important role in this development.
What does the T / C front of the solution need?
On the front of the Turkish Left, Ms. Latif characterizes as significant the percentage of the Independence Street Party (KDA), which participated for the first time in an “electoral” contest. This party took advantage of the possibilities of social media and defended the rights of workers. “[Despite the remarkable percentage of the KDA] it should be noted that a significant portion of the workers did not vote for this party because it has lost hope of improving the overall picture in the near future,” Latif added.
Finally, focusing on the next day, Ms. Latif emphasizes two important points. First, he points out that the Turkish Cypriot community will continue its political course with “governments” of cooperation, which in the past have failed to solve important problems faced by the Turkish Cypriot community. Secondly, with the reduction of the number of T / C parties in the “parliament”, which support the bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, from two to one, in the camp of the T / C Left, the need for the union of the forces of solution becomes more urgent. and Left. For Ms. Latif, this goal could be achieved through the action of civil society and, of course, the resumption of dialogue on the Cyprus issue.
“Suzuoglu's work easier”
Turkish journalist Aitug Turkkan agrees with Ms. Latif that two parties emerged from yesterday's showdown with notable political gains, the KEE and the RTK. According to him, at a time when the percentages of the two largest C / C parties are strengthening, the smaller C / C political formations are counting losses or at best maintaining their percentages.
According to Mr. Turkkan, in the new period, the work of the KEE leader, Faiz Suzuoglu, is easier. This is because, in the new “government”, Mr. Soutzouoglu has three options, the cooperation with one of the three smaller parties of the C / C Right, namely the Democratic Party (DK), the People's Party (KL) or the Renaissance Party (KA).
The surprises and the camp of the losers
Regarding the “surprises” in yesterday's confrontation, the Turkish journalist refers to the exclusion of the Community Democracy Party (KKD) from the new “parliament”. Mr. Aitug links this development to the limited number of “mixed votes” and the fact that supporters of the smaller left-wing T / C formations supported the PTK to prevent the KEE from becoming autonomous. Mr. Aitug also describes the performance of the Independence Street Party (KDA), whose percentage was close to 2%, as a “surprise”.
Regarding the camp of the losers, Mr. Aitug notes that the DK failed to increase its percentages, the settlers' movement, the KA maintained its forces and the KL suffered an overwhelming defeat.
Source: KYPE
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