UBP seeks partner as speculation rises over DP’s coalition decision

SERDAR Denktaş and his Democrat Party (DP) were playing their cards close to their chests yesterday, poised as “kingmaker” in a future coalition government. Sunday’s general election ended with the ruling National Unity Party (UBP) taking 21 seats in the 50-seat Parliament — short of the 26 they needed to return to power alone. UBP leader Hüseyin Özgürgün, whose UBP-DP coalition remains in charge until a new government is formed, is expected to be given the mandate by President Mustafa Akıncı to set up an administration after the new batch of MPs take their oaths on January 22.

However with the second and third biggest parties in the Assembly — the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) with 12 seats and People’s Party (HP) with nine — having ruled out a coalition with UBP, along with the three-deputy Social Democratic Party

(TDP), all eyes have been on DP and its trio of MPs.

Commentators are speculating that DP could renew its coalition with UBP, bolstered by the two MPs of the Rebirth Party (YDP) to bring its total number of MPs to 26 — or could be central to a four-way coalition with CTP, HP and TDP, which would have 27.

While YDP leader Erhan Arıklı expressed readiness for coalition talks with anyone, CTP, HP and TDP all issued statements signalling they would not enter into a government with UBP.

Party meetings later confirmed the early stance, all saying that while the respected voters’ choice of UBP, they did not believe such a coalition would leave room for taking steps towards a “clean, transparent, accountable” political system.

DP’s position has been more ambiguous. There were initial negative noises, with general secretary Afet Özcafer saying their previous power-sharing with UBP had created “many problems” and should not be repeated, preferring a CTPHP-DP-TDP alliance — a view she claimed leader Serdar Denktaş shared.

Ms Özcafer later backtracked, saying this had been merely a personal opinion, and Mr Denktaş declared he would “never say no” to approaches from any parties.

A DP assembly on Wednesday authorised Mr Denktaş to engage in coalition discussions with all parties. Members also launched a disciplinary investigation calling for the expulsion of five members identified as having supported a rival party.

The parties’ antipathy towards government with UBP brought a veiled rebuke on Wednesday from Turkish Interior Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, who declared 2018 “a critical year for Cyprus”, adding: “I hope parties . . . set aside those statements . . . and we see formation of a government as soon as possible [which] would be beneficial . . . in terms of steps to be taken in Cyprus or in peace negotiations.”

Mr Çavuşoğlu also signalled Ankara’s interest in seeing the TRNC move to a presidential system of government, commenting: “What is important is to have a functioning democracy and division of power. We changed our system to a presidential one and see its benefits.”

Answering criticism of his party’s anti-UBP stance, HP leader Kudret Özersay said on social media: “How are we supposed to set up a government with Hüseyin Özgürgün and bring him to account while there are unexplained . . . allegations against him? Mr Özgürgün is reaping what he sowed.”

CTP leader Tufan Erhürman added: “Some suggest we . . . ignore what we said during the election process . . . And then the same people say trust in politics is eroded. The election . . . is over but the struggle and promises for dignity, justice, productivity and services continue, no matter what.”