YDP party withdraws from ruling coalition in northern Cyprus — Cyprus Mail
The far-right Turkish Cypriot YDP party has officially withdrawn from the ruling coalition in northern Cyprus. Its leader, Erhan Arıklı, announced this two days after he was dismissed from the post of “transport minister,” Cyprus Mail reports.
Withdrawal announcement
Arıklı told Kanal T that he had officially informed the UBP party — the largest member of the coalition, to which Ünal Üstel belongs — about YDP’s decision. According to him, YDP’s internal bodies voted to leave the coalition shortly after his dismissal.
He said that he sent the relevant letter at 11:00 the previous day and suggested seeking confirmation from UBP Secretary-General Ahmet Savaşan. On Thursday, Savaşan said that despite Arıklı’s announced intention to leave the coalition, he had not received official notification of this.
Balance of power in the legislature
Following YDP’s withdrawal, the coalition consists of UBP and DP and has a three-seat majority in the 49-member Turkish Cypriot legislature. It is supported by 23 UBP representatives, two DP representatives, and independent legislator Hasan Tosunoğlu.
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The opposition includes 18 CTP representatives, two YDP members, and three independent legislators — Ayşegül Baybars, İzlem Gürçağ Altugra, and Jale Refik Rogers. Üstel has not yet named a new “transport minister.”
Arıklı’s dismissal
Arıklı was dismissed on Wednesday, three days after a passenger ferry sank off the coast of Kyrenia. According to Cyprus Mail, at least 12 people died in the accident.
Üstel explained the decision by the need to ensure that the police and judicial investigation proceeds without doubts or concerns over a possible conflict of interest. He stressed that the dismissal was not a political move against YDP and also said that no person removed from office can be considered guilty before a court ruling.
After the disaster, families of those missing sharply criticized Arıklı and demanded that he come to Kyrenia. According to the publication, he did not comply with these demands before his dismissal.
