Future of Northern Cyprus coalition government uncertain

Nikolaos Stelya / Nicosia

Formed recently with great expectations in Northern Cyprus, the National Unity Party (UBP) - People Party (HP) coalition government is facing deep troubles. Along with economic problems in the island's north, deep differences of opinion are starting to surface in the major partner of government. Government's difficult decision regarding next year's Presidential election only serves to make Prime Minister Ersin Tatar's job more difficult.

Even though a new economic agreement with Turkey was signed, no money flow from Turkey to Northern Cyprus has yet been observed. Economic difficulties in the Turkish part of island are putting the new coalition government in a tight spot.

On the other hand, candidates from UBP and HP remain uncertain in the wake of upcoming Presidential elections. While especially within UBP tough discussions about the issue continue to emerge, HP seems to be dwelling on Minister of Foreign Affairs Kudret Özersay for candidacy. Should Özersay become a candidate, he will have to receive support from Cypriot Turkish Right and central minded voters.

New information regarding political turmoil in Northern Cyprus have recently been in Cypriot Turkish media and none of it have yet been denied by government officials. Cypriot Turkish press had recently reported that there are groups within UBP who do not accept Prime Minister Ersin Tatar's leadership and are working to remove him from power.

While these important claims continue to echo, experienced Cypriot Turkish journalist Başaran Düzgün reported how turbulent and full of debate the recent UBP Parliament Group meeting ended.

Düzgün said "UBP MP's are unhappy and fuming due to government's activities or lack of activities and influence of their smaller partner."

Düzgün goes on to comment "They talked about how UBP ministers and especially Prime Minister is passive, they don't have a clear policy, how they said 'previous government could net secure funding from Ankara but we will' but nothing has come yet and how some ministers cannot even get appointments with their counterparts in Ankara. They complained about the smaller partner of government acting like they rule the state, and growing perception of Prime Minister being Özersay, not Tatar."

Düzgün ends his report with this bit of information: "You know how Prime Minister and UBP Chairman Ersin Tatar reacted to all of this? He started screaming. He tried to shut up members of parliament with screams".