TRNC Politics: Denktash ‘under pressure’ to deal with Ozgurgun

Following 2018 early parliamentary election in North Cyprus, the formation of a new government has been a daunting task with talks after talks ending in deadlock to this effect, Democratic Party leader Serdar Denktash on Wednesday said he was being pressured into forming a three-way coalition with the National Unity Party (UBP) and the Rebirth Party (YDP).

Speaking after another inconclusive meeting for an alternative four-way coalition that includes the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), the People’s Party (HP) and the Communal Democracy Party (TDP), Denktash said he agreed with a statement by UBP leader and ‘prime minister’ Huseyin Ozgurgun’s that “forced governments are problematic” and according to him, Ozgurgun was the one attempting to form a “forced coalition”.

I am not currently under pressure to form a four-way coalition, but I am under pressure to form a three-way one, Denktash said.

The CTP, the HP, the TDP and the Democratic Party (DP) are holding talks on trying to form a ‘government’. In total they would have 26 seats out of 50, which is just enough to govern.

But the three-way coalition would be possible with UBP, DP and YDP which is mainly composed of Turkish settlers, a set up that would also consist of 26 seats.

according to Denktash, he is wary of this combination after the difficulties he faced with the UBP in the previous ‘government’ and the implications of being associated with the ultranationalist YDP which mainly consists of Turkish settlers.

On Wednesday, Turkish Cypriot president, Mustafa Akinci handed Ozgurgun the task of forming a ‘government’ after his UBP came first in the January 7 election with 21 seats. Ozgurgun now has 15 days to form a coalition, and if he fails on that he will have to return the task to Akinci.

Ozgurgun has in the past criticised the four-way coalition talks saying it went against the will of the people and called it a ‘civillian coup’.

It will be very difficult to try and form a government while there is this four-way coalition attempt going on, he said.

We will reach out to all parties. I will consult our party but I plan to speak to CTP first,” Ozgurgun added.

Denktash said the four-way talks were progressing well and that they would pick up on Thursday, holding two further meetings. He said they were disturbed by the attempts at division in the country and would do what is necessary to prevent this. He added they hoped to reach a conclusion in the coming days.

Sourced from Cyprus Mail