Northern Cyprus: UBP leader Ünal Üstel says single-party rule drive began tonight

Ünal Üstel, leader of the National Unity Party (UBP) and prime minister, spoke after voting ended in the party's parliamentary candidate selection and ranking ballot. Thanking participating members, Üstel said 8,929 members went to the ballot boxes, a higher turnout than in the 2018 and 2022 candidate selections.

Üstel said: “This victory belongs to you! This victory belongs to UBP!” He said members had embraced intra-party democracy and set a new participation record. He said the members' message was a single-party majority message, and that all 71 candidates competing in the selection were his fellow travellers, with no distinction between those who made the list and those who did not.

Üstel said the turnout was a slap in the face to those who said UBP was finished, and that the 50 candidates for parliament carried a great responsibility. He stated the party's goal is single-party government, saying: “Our journey to single-party rule began tonight. No stopping, no tiring!”