Cracks emerge in former ruling party

CRACKS are beginning to emerge within the National Unity Party (UBP), with talk of a leadership contest and suggestions that its period in opposition will be a good time to take stock.

Lefkoşa MP and long-term UBP loyalist Hasan Taçoy told Cyprus Today the “firm” refusal of three political parties to enter into a coalition with the former ruling party, and their “denunciatory debates” over leader Hüseyin Özgürgün had “weakened UBP’s hand”.

“They [CTP, HP and TDP] tried to stop our rise, but failed to do so as we came out the strongest party [in the January 7 general election]. Yet it was inevitable for the party to be affected by the accusations,” he said.

In a signal of internal party unrest, Mr Taçoy said a period of “self-criticism is needed”, commenting: “The situation will be evaluated by UBP members and organs and essential actions will be taken accordingly.”

He said all issues would be considered at a party congress – reportedly likely to take place in April or after local elections in June — “in parallel with the views of the party’s grass roots, and we will act depending on the outcome”.

Sources suggested to Cyprus Today that Mr Özgürgün, whose personal finances were the focus for public debate and questions in the run-up to the general election, was likely to face a leadership challenge at the congress, with outgoing health minister Faiz Sucuoğlu and former finance minister Ersin Tatar among names being touted to replace him.

However Mr Taçoy said: “We have not yet had any discussion on this matter.

“If there are candidates for the party leadership, this will be evaluated and action taken.”

Dr Sucuoğlu, also one of UBP’s Lefkoşa MPs, dismissed rumours of his likely leadership candidacy as “not in question now”, and told Cyprus Today: “I haven’t received any calls to stand for the party leadership. It’s early to make any statement on the issue.”

However, he echoed Mr Taçoy’s view that party members and officials would be evaluating the party’s situation following the recent developments.

Mete Hatay, a senior researcher at the Peace Research Institute Oslo’s (Prio) Cyprus Centre, said: “It’s time for UBP to sit down and consider why three parties refrained from forming a coalition with them.”

He continued: “UBP has engaged in many actions for the sake of being in the government. It’s believed that some [in the party] played a role in the rise of recent tensions in the country. UBP needs to evaluate all of this.

“UBP has become the symbol of the patronage system here, so party members who claim to be reformist need to address this.

“There is a need for UBP as a conservative party in this country, but they need to show the people that they will be a healthier one.”

Mr Hatay said he had heard of potential challengers to Mr Özgürgün, and he believed the upcoming congress would yield “rivalry . . . for the party leadership”.

However, he stressed: “This should not be a contest just to elect a different person. There is a need to change the mentality and discourse of the party.

“We’ve seen UBP transform itself in a positive way in the past. After being the opposition party in 1993, it came to power in the 1998 elections.”