Resmiye Eroğlu Canaltay, daughter of former Turkish Cypriot leader Derviş Eroğlu, has announced her withdrawal from the upcoming "parliamentary elections" in the north following an internal vote held by the National Unity Party (UBP) to rank and select candidates.
In a written statement posted on social media, Eroğlu Canaltay said she had reached the decision after evaluating recent developments and the outcome of the party's internal process.
She stressed that she is not leaving the party, pointing to her long political history within the UBP, where she has served, among other roles, as a "member of parliament" and a "minister". She also wished success to the candidates who will go on to contest the election.
Üstel defends internal vote
UBP leader and "prime minister" Ünal Üstel defended the party's 24 October internal ballot, describing it as the most transparent and best-organised process in the party's history.
According to Üstel, 8,929 party members participated in the vote. From a total of 80 contenders, the party will select 50 candidates for its final electoral list.
'Members' verdict is binding'
Üstel said he had listened to and examined objections raised following the ballot, but insisted that the verdict of party members must be respected regardless of the outcome.
He described the withdrawal of a candidacy as a personal choice but criticised insults directed at the party and attempts to question the legitimacy of the process because of dissatisfaction with individual rankings.
He also argued that no personal political ambition should take precedence over the UBP and called for unity ahead of the forthcoming electoral contest.
"No individual political goal is above the National Unity Party," he said, urging members to focus on the election campaign rather than internal disputes.
The withdrawal of Eroğlu Canaltay, one of the party's more prominent figures and the daughter of former Turkish Cypriot leader Derviş Eroğlu, has nonetheless drawn attention to tensions surrounding candidate selection within the governing party.
Source: CNA
