HERE WE GO AGAIN
● MEETINGS TO FORM NEW GOVT BEGIN AS PREVIOUS ONE COLLAPSES AFTER JUST 59 DAYS ● UBP LEADER AND PM SUCUOĞLU PRESENTS GOVT’S RESIGNATION TO PRESIDENT TATAR ● MOVE PROMPTED AFTER PM AND FINANCE MINISTER CLASH OVER ELECTRICITY DEAL ● AND TO TOP IT ALL OFF, ROLLING POWER CUTS RESUME AFTER FRESH OIL SUPPLY WOES
NORTH Cyprus is now awaiting the formation of what would be its fourth government since the start of November, after the National Unity Party-Democrat PartyRebirth Party (UBP-DP-YDP) coalition had its resignation accepted by President Ersin Tatar on Wednesday, after just 59 days in office.
The resignation came following a series of events set into motion by the recent large-scale protests that have been taking place in the country.
Among those instigating the protests was the Cyprus Turkish Electricity Authority Workers’ Union (El-Sen), who had begun their protests by opposing what they perceived to be a deliberate running into the ground of the Cyprus Turkish Electricity Authority (Kıb-Tek) on the part of the government, with a view to privatisation.
As part of their protest, they had cut off the power to government buildings, and had issued a set of five demands to the government, allegedly threatening that if the demands were not met, they would cut off power to the whole country.
The list included the demand to make it illegal for Kıb-Tek to sell electricity below the cost of production, that the loss made by Kıb-Tek as a result of the “discounted” tariffs from March should be calculated by a committee of which El-Sen is a part, and that it should be paid back to Kıb-Tek, and the withdrawal of legal cases and disciplinary action taken against El-Sen members who participated in their protests.
The government began to fall into crisis when El-Sen claimed that it was unable to contact the Finance Minister, Sunat Atun, in order to issue their demands.
PM MAKES EL-SEN DEAL
As a result, they contacted the Prime Minister, Faiz Sucuoğlu, to issue him with their demands. Dr Sucuoğlu signed an agreement with them, and El-Sen celebrated a successful protest, but for the government, the trouble was only beginning.
On Monday, Dr Sucuoğlu took to the dispatch box in Parliament and claimed that upon his return from Turkey at the end of last week, he was informed that ElSen was about to shut down the Teknecik power plant and plunge the country into darkness. He said that he was informed that El-Sen had been unable to contact Mr Atun, and that he therefore decided to take it upon himself to sign the agreement before scheduling a further meeting.
He said he had planned to keep his signing of the agreement a secret, but that news of it quickly broke.
Following the conclusion of Dr Sucuoğlu’s statement, Mr Atun took to the dispatch box and issued a conflicting story to Parliament.
He claimed that the agreement was issued to him by the general manager and deputy general manager of Kıb-Tek, but that he disagreed with the text of the agreement and the demands issued, and therefore chose not to sign it.
In a written statement issued
on Wednesday, Mr Atun said that he had “exercised my right to reply in Parliament and told the truth”.
‘IT’S EITHER ME OR HIM’
Dr Sucuoğlu moved quickly to sack his Finance Minister, visiting the Presidential Palace at around midday on Tuesday to request formal permission from President Ersin Tatar to fire Mr Atun.
However, Mr Tatar did not grant Dr Sucuoğlu permission to sack his Finance Minister.
President Tatar explained in a statement that he had asked Dr Sucuoğlu for time to make assessments and consultations until the evening before coming to a decision.
He said that Dr Sucuoğlu had initially accepted his suggestion and left, but that a few hours later the PM returned to the Presidential Palace and issued a resignation on the part of the whole government, effectively issuing Mr Tatar with an ultimatum — “either Mr Atun goes, or we all go”.
The UBP then held an emergency Central Executive Board meeting that evening, in which it expressed its full support for Dr Sucuoğlu.
On Wednesday, Mr Tatar made the decision to accept the government’s resignation, ending the UBP-DP-YDP coalition.
“Following legal consultations, I have arrived at the conclusion that the unilateral resignation [of the government] is valid and I am obliged to implement this request,” Mr Tatar stated, adding that he asked Dr Sucuoğlu and the three-party coalition to “continue their service to the country until a new government is formed” in accordance with Article 106 of the Constitution.
“I hope a new government will be formed as soon as possible as there is an economic crisis in the country,” he said, stressing that the signed economic protocol with Turkey should be implemented “as soon as possible”, a view he also shared with Dr Sucuoğlu.
‘FARCE’
Main opposition Republican Turkish Party leader Tufan Erhürman outlined his position on the situation in a social media post, in which he said: “Mr Atun made a mistake. After the Prime Minister made it so clear that he did not want to work with him, it was his duty to resign.
“President Tatar made a mistake. When Dr Sucuoğlu sent the letter regarding the dismissal of Mr Atun, he did not have the luxury or authority to refuse it or keep him waiting.
“Dr Sucuoğlu made a mistake. If he could not dismiss a minister, he should not offer a ‘conditional resignation’. He should either wait for the minister’s dismissal or, if he could not wait, directly offer the government’s resignation.
“Three mistakes caused the public to see a farce in the midst of such a great crisis. No matter what decision you make from now on, you cannot convince anyone that you are acting seriously and responsibly!”
Dr Erhürman also engaged in an amount of ridicule, recalling the UBP’s general election slogans from January claiming that it is the natural party of government and “stability”.
“The result? The government has resigned before even lasting two months,” Dr Erhürman said.
Kudret Özersay, leader of the People’s Party (HP), said following a “consultation meeting” with Mr Tatar on Thursday that he had asked the President not to “waste time” and that he should ask Dr Sucuoğlu to form a government.
“We see that Sucuoğlu will try to form the same government with several different ministers,” Dr Özersay said.
“As the HP, we do not want to be an extra or a part of this ineptly written script . . . The public should question Dr Sucuoğlu, who resigned yesterday but said that the government is ready to be formed today.”
YDP leader Erhan Arıklı said after his meeting with Mr Tatar on Thursday that efforts should be made to establish a “technocratic government”.
If that is not possible, then the “right thing would be for the country’s two major parties — the UBP and the CTP — to establish a government” he said.
DP leader Fikri Ataoğlu said following his meeting with Mr Tatar, also on Thursday, that his party will “not shy away from responsibility”.
CRACKS
The first cracks within the UBP emerged just two weeks after the government was formed when, on March 7, it was announced that then-Foreign Minister Hasan Taçoy would not be attending the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey, with his predecessor Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu attending instead.
On March 8, Dr Sucuoğlu promised to the media that there were to be no changes to his Cabinet, calling suggestions to the contrary “lies”.
The following day, Labour and Social Security Minister Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu resigned, being replaced by Mr Taçoy, with Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu becoming Foreign Minister.
A month later, on April 5, Dr Sucuoğlu announced his decision to reduce electricity prices after many people saw their monthly bills treble for the month of March.
This decision never became law, however, with Dr Sucuoğlu claiming on April 8 that it had not yet happened because the people who had made the arrangement had “caught Covid-19”. On April 13, prior to the signing of the Turkey-TRNC Financial and Economic Cooperation protocol, Dr Sucuoğlu informed Mr Atun that he had “sacked himself”, but did not move to sack him until the latest issue with El-Sen occurred.
Now the President has accepted the government’s resignation, the process to form a new government starts all over again.
The leader of the party formally asked to form a government, typically the largest party in Parliament, will have 15 days after receiving the mandate from Mr Tatar to do so.
If he fails, then Mr Tatar could ask the leader of another party represented in Parliament to try to form a government, or call a fresh general election.
If 60 days pass without a government being formed following the formal start of negotiations, an early general election will be called automatically.
Yesterday Mr Tatar held meetings first with Dr Erhürman and then Dr Sucuoğlu.
Speaking to reporters after his meeting, Dr Sucuoğlu said that he and Mr Tatar had made a “general assessment” of the situation and exchanged views.
“The President will decide who he will give the mandate to form a government to. . . It is unclear when and to whom the mandate to form the government will be given,” Dr Sucuoğlu said.
At the time Cyprus Today went to press Mr Tatar had yet to announce his next move following the meeting with Dr Sucuoğlu.