PM announces top priorities of coalition
A CLAMPDOWN on cronyism and curbs on new citizenships will be among the coalition government’s top priorities, Prime Minister Tufan Erhürman said on Wednesday. He said public sector reform would be a major plank of government policy, with the focus on increasing “motivation” and “productivity”.
“Public reform work was completed by the previous government; a voluminous law was brought out; meetings were held with the unions; this will be one of the laws that will come before Parliament once the state budget has been passed,” he said in an interview with the Tak news agency.
“The overall problem is that the laws are not being implemented. We cannot solve everything by just passing a law. This is the view of lawyers.”
Asked how public sector workers could become more motivated and productive, Dr Erhürman responded that he would “jam a stick in the wheel . . . to stop it from spinning”.
“We will place a stick one by one into the wheel,” he declared. “There will of course be complaints, because everyone has got used to this system.”
Dr Erhürman, leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), said that while people were quick to complain about “the system”, they were at the same time trying to gain advantage from it.
“There is this mentality of ‘complain, but continue’. This is a slogan of the status quo. Everyone says the system is broken, but everyone is also trying to take even the smallest benefit from the broken side of it.”
Commenting on other issues, Dr Erhürman said that there were currently 129 politically appointed advisers within government and pledged “not to create” any new such posts.
The adviser roles are viewed with suspicion by some, who see them as a way for ministers to reward supporters with key jobs, regardless of their skills or experience. On the issue of naturalisation laws, the Premier said he and the leaders of his three coalition partners had agreed that “newly made citizens will not be able to vote in the first election [after they become citizens]” and that the practice of granting citizenship at the “discretion” of the Council of Ministers should be brought to an end. The moves are aimed at ending the alleged granting of citizenship for votes.
He added: “We agree that in exceptional circumstances people can legally be made citizens, as happens in other parts of the world, in recognition of serious contributions [to the country], or contributions through sports, culture and the economy.”
Of suggestions outlined last Friday that the number of betting offices are to be reduced, Dr Erhürman said the gambling establishments were an important part of the economy, employing some 1,000 people.
“They aren’t places that can just be shut down in one go,” he added. “All these [betting offices, casinos, online gambling and a planned casino in South Cyprus] have to be considered when talking about how to handle gambling.”
He also said the issue of conscientious objection would be “taken up” by the government.
Dr Erhürman revealed that he had “made an appointment” to visit Ankara, describing Turkey as his “second homeland”, to initiate “protocol discussions” and meet with Turkish officials — probably accompanied by his Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, People’s Party (HP) leader Kudret Özersay.
THE results of a review of citizenships handed out by ministers under previous governments will be released this week, Dr Özersay said on Tuesday. He said an announcement would be made following the next Cabinet meeting and when ministers have “more concrete information”.