TRNC Parliament Delayed in Holding First Session at New Building

The General Assembly of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was scheduled to hold its first session today in the newly opened Parliament building—but MPs failed to arrive on time.

According to local media, the session was set to begin at 10:00 a.m. However, due to the lack of quorum at the scheduled time, the meeting was delayed.

It eventually started in the afternoon, following a small reception attended by the members of parliament.

On the agenda for today's session: the “Draft Law on Compensation for Mujahideen and the Definition of Rights and Benefits for Veterans,” as well as the “Draft Law on Regulating the Monthly Salaries and Other Payments to Civil Servants.” The Assembly is also set to hold third-round debates on two key bills—one aimed at strengthening the TRNC Security Forces, and another focused on preventing money laundering, terrorist financing, and the funding of weapons of mass destruction.

It’s worth noting that late starts and failure to meet quorum were also frequent issues at the old Parliament building.

The new Republican Campus, which houses the Presidential Palace and the Assembly building, was officially inaugurated over the weekend. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan traveled to Northern Cyprus to attend the ceremony.

Construction on the complex began in 2022. Covering a total area of 639,475 square meters, it includes the Presidential Office, the Assembly of the Republic, the Supreme Court, and the Nation’s Garden. The Assembly building itself spans 20,010 square meters and features offices for the president and prime minister, a 157-seat General Assembly hall, 52 MP offices, a Cabinet meeting room, a 135-seat conference hall, a 252-seat dining room, 16 meeting rooms, and a library.