TRNC Parliament Concludes Speaker Elections

The drawn-out process of electing the Speaker of the General Assembly in Northern Cyprus has finally concluded. On the sixth attempt, Ziya Öztürkler, who resigned from the position just a day earlier, was re-elected.

During yesterday’s parliamentary session, Ziya Öztürkler, the candidate put forward again by the National Unity Party (UBP), was elected in the first round with 27 votes.

A total of 48 members of parliament cast their votes, with 21 voting against him. These results were sufficient for the former Minister of Interior to reclaim his position as Speaker.

After the election, Ziya Öztürkler delivered a brief speech, starting with an apology to everyone for the inconveniences caused during the process. He emphasized, “What’s most important is to get the job done.” Following his remarks, the session was adjourned for a 10-minute recess.

After the break, Fazilet Özdenefe, nominated by the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) as the sole candidate, was elected Deputy Speaker of Parliament. She secured 27 votes in favor, 5 against, while 6 members abstained.

It is worth noting that Ziya Öztürkler initially assumed the role of Speaker on October 18, 2024, following elections that began on October 7 and lasted 11 days, marked by several controversies.

This re-election sparked criticism from the opposition CTP, which alleged that at least three votes were invalid. Parliamentary work, including discussions on the 2025 budget, was supposed to begin in committee last week. However, disagreements between the ruling party and the opposition led to a week-long suspension of parliamentary proceedings.

On the morning of November 18, it was announced that Ziya Öztürkler had resigned after serving exactly one month as Speaker. Later that same day, he was re-nominated for the position and ultimately re-elected.

Ziya Öztürkler was born on November 2, 1978, in Nicosia. He served as Minister of Interior in the UBP-DP-YDP coalition government formed on May 12, 2022, and stepped down from this role on August 11, 2023. He continues to serve as a Member of Parliament representing the National Unity Party (UBP).