Drama in the TRNC parliament as government coalition MPs boycott meeting while opposition MPs tries to opens session

There was drama in the TRNC parliament on Monday when the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Fazilet Özdenefe, a memeber of the opposition party CTP convened the General Assembly with the agenda of “Speaker of Parliament election”; with MPs from the UBP, YDP, and DP parties boycotting the meeting, and Parliament TV cut the broadcast.

Due to an insufficient quorum, the session was paused for 10 minutes. Özdenefe recalled that the last legitimate and lawful session was held on 18 October and stated, “After the break given in the session on 18 October, we are reopening the session today.” She added, “I am making a correction in the minutes. It states the 9th session, please record that I am opening the 8th session in the minutes”.

Özdenefe then rang the session bell, and only opposition MPs entered the General Assembly chamber. At this point, the Parliament TV broadcast was cut. Özdenefe remarked, “From what I’ve been informed, Parliament TV has cut the broadcast. If that is the case, I need to remind them that, according to regulations, they are required to continue broadcasting”.

CTP Group Deputy Chair Erkut Şahali said, “The coup plotters have lost their senses to the point of interfering with the BRT broadcast”. Due to the lack of a quorum, a 10-minute break was given to the session.

Background

*The recent events in the parliament of North Cyprus are part of a deepening political and constitutional crisis, rooted in struggles over governance, legitimacy, and external influence—primarily from Turkey. This tension has escalated due to disagreements over parliamentary leadership and the influence of the Turkish government on North Cyprus’s domestic politics.

The specific trigger was the long-standing dispute over the position of Speaker of Parliament. Traditionally, this role holds significant influence, as the Speaker manages legislative sessions and often serves as a mediator. However, the election process for a new Speaker has been stalled due to a lack of consensus among parties. The governing coalition, which comprises the UBP, YDP, and DP, is widely viewed as being aligned with Turkish interests. In contrast, the opposition CTP and its allies are more vocal about protecting North Cyprus’s autonomy from Ankara’s influence.

Fazilet Özdenefe, the Deputy Speaker from the opposition CTP, attempted to move forward by calling the parliamentary session herself, citing her legitimate authority to convene sessions. Her intent was to finally address the Speaker election, which has been in limbo for weeks. However, the governing coalition’s decision to boycott this session was a calculated move to prevent the opposition from pushing forward any agenda without their involvement. The broadcast cut by Parliament TV further underscores the level of governmental control and the restrictions placed on parliamentary transparency. 

[LGC News Ed.]