Erhan Arıklı, the president of the Rebirth Party, has said his party informed the National Unity Party (UBP) on Thursday morning of its decision to withdraw from the Turkish Cypriot “government”.
Arıklı was removed from his position as “transport minister” by UBP president and “prime minister” Ünal Üstel.
According to Turkish Cypriot media reports, Üstel said in a television interview that the letter notifying the UBP of the Rebirth Party's decision was sent at 11am on Thursday.
He referred the matter to UBP secretary-general Ahmet Savaşan, who had also been informed, Üstel said.
The Rebirth Party's decision to leave the coalition was taken on Wednesday evening and took immediate effect, according to Üstel.
The letter has not yet been submitted to the “parliament” or the “presidency”, he added, saying this would be done through the “prime minister's office”.
Arıklı appears at airport after dismissal
Meanwhile, videos published by Turkish Cypriot media show Arıklı among the officials who welcomed Turkish Vice-President Cevdet Yılmaz at Ercan Airport shortly after 3pm on Thursday.
Yılmaz greeted Arıklı, as well as “Prime Minister” Ünal Üstel and “Deputy Prime Minister” and Democratic Party president Fikri Ataoğlu.
The footage has prompted comments on social media questioning in what capacity Arıklı attended the reception and why he was present, given that his removal from the “transport ministry” had already been published in the “official gazette” and was in effect.
The developments have added to uncertainty surrounding the coalition following the Rebirth Party's decision to withdraw from the “government”.
Speaker says government may still have majority
Speaking to reporters at Kyrenia port, “parliament” speaker Ziya Öztürkler was asked whether the “government” still had a majority in the “parliament”.
He said the information he had received was that the “government” had not lost its majority.
Öztürkler said 26 “MPs” needed to be present for the “parliament” plenary to convene, adding that the “coalition government” currently had that number.
He also said decisions required a simple majority.
Asked about the Rebirth Party's decision to leave the “government”, Öztürkler said the most appropriate course would be for Arıklı and Üstel to make statements on the issue.
“We need to speak carefully on this matter,” he said.
Coalition parties yet to comment
Neither the UBP nor its coalition partner, the Democratic Party, has commented publicly since Wednesday evening on the Rebirth Party's decision to leave the “government” or on what their next steps will be.
The immediate political implications of the decision therefore remain unclear, including how the coalition will operate and whether it can maintain its parliamentary majority.
Source: CNA
