UBP ‘BYPASSED’
PM ACCUSES RIVAL PARTIES OF ‘CIVILIAN COUP’, AS FOUR-WAY COALITION GAINS GROUND
THE TRNC is heading towards a four-party coalition government that would see the National Unity Party (UBP) “bypassed”, a minister said last night — prompting accusations of a “civilian coup” by its leader, Prime Minister Hüseyin Özgürgün.
UBP Health Minister Faiz Sucuoğlu confirmed to Cyprus Today remarks reportedly made by Deputy Prime Minister and Democrat Party leader Serdar Denktaş — seen as the “kingmaker” in horse-trading to form a new government — that he would not enter into another coalition with the UBP “from this hour onwards”.
“It is true such remarks were made,” Dr Sucuoğlu said. “This issue is finished. We are heading for a four-party coalition.”
Despite emerging as the clear winners in the general election a fortnight ago, UBP has found itself isolated.
Their 36 per cent share of the votes was not enough to govern alone, giving them only 21 of the 50 seats in Parliament.
The two next-biggest parties — the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) with 12 seats and the People’s Party (HP), which has nine MPs — have both ruled out working with the UBP.
Their leaders — Tufan Erhürman and Kudret Özersay respectively — yesterday appeared alongside Mr Denktaş and the head of the Social Democratic Party (TDP) Cemal Özyiğit, for the first “official” talks, at the CTP’s headquarters in Lefkoşa.
TDP and DP have three MPs each, meaning a coalition between them, CTP and HP would have a total of 27 seats — a slender parliamentary majority of two.
The four men said they were willing to share power but that negotiations would continue at general secretary level.
TDP spokesman Kemal Buğraç told this paper negotiations would continue today, adding: “Nothing is certain, but the negotiations are going positively.”
The four parties have already reached agreement on how ministries will be distributed, sources told Cyprus Today.
It is understood that the CTP will take control of four, HP three, and DP and TDP would be in charge of two each.
Mr Denktaş is understood to be “particularly keen” to retain the finance and tourism ministries, which the other parties are not opposed to. HP wants the ministries of foreign affairs, economy and labour, while TDP wants to take control of the education and interior portfolios, leaving the CTP with the Prime Ministry, health, transportation and agriculture.
Such a coalition would give the
government a greater grip on parliamentary committees, which can only be run by parties with five MPs or more.
The developments came as Prime Minister Hüseyin Özgürgün formally submitted the UBP-DP coalition government’s resignation to President Mustafa Akıncı yesterday, but they remain in charge until a new government is formed. Speaking on the steps of the presidential palace Mr Özgürgün, who on Thursday evening held a meeting with Mr Denktaş and was later given “full authority” to form a coalition, said: “We were elected as the [biggest] party, as seen in the results. This is a major success for UBP, however it was not enough to form a singleparty government . . .
“The formation of a coalition government without UBP is tantamount to a civilian coup and it is clear that the public will not give credit to this.
“We will do whatever is needed from us, but we will not . . . force ourselves to enter into a coalition, as forced coalitions never live long and create difficulties.”
Meanwhile, sources close to Mr Özgürgün said last night that “all preparations are complete” for starting talks on a three-party coalition with DP and the Rebirth Party (YDP), which has two seats.
President Akıncı is expected on Monday to formally task a party leader with forming a new government. It is customary for that duty to be given to the party with the most seats — UBP — but there was speculation last night that he could ask Mr Erhürman to form a government if it becomes clear that UBP will not be able to do so.
The talks come as economists warned that the country could be plunged into “chaos” if a new government is not formed soon, because state spending for 2018 has yet to be approved by Parliament.