Northern Cyprus: CTP's İncirli criticises UBP congress problems and Üstel's Ankara trip

Cumhuriyetçi Türk Partisi (CTP) leader Sıla Usar İncirli has commented on problems at a congress held by the Ulusal Birlik Partisi (UBP) in Northern Cyprus to determine its parliamentary candidates. She said her party followed developments at the congress with concern and sadness, and described them as a continuation and result of the approach seen in the country's governance over the past five years.

İncirli stressed that CTP does not seek to benefit from its rivals' problems, and said that weakening democratic culture in political parties is a problem for the country's democracy as a whole. She noted that despite serious debates at the congress, the UBP leadership had not issued a comprehensive statement answering questions from members and the public.

İncirli said that talk of Ünal Üstel travelling to Ankara before the results are announced, if accurate, is incompatible with the respect due to UBP members' will. She called for honest, transparent, fair and accountable governance, and invited citizens who have lost trust in politics to stand up for democracy and a shared future.