One needs to assess the political line followed by President Tufan Erhürman following his election. Firstly, from the perspective of domestic politics, he has reintroduced balance—a crucial element of the democratic process—into our lives. He decided to refer certain laws passed by Parliament, which were socially contentious, to the judiciary for review regarding their constitutionality, acting within his constitutional authority.
Some made remarks regarding certain laws, which he will refer to Parliament for reconsideration. In response to the government’s imposition regarding the cost of living allowance —first with legislation and then with the statutory decree— civil society and trade unions have taken action on the basis of their right to object. During these protests, police and demonstrators came face to face. Thereon, rather than remaining in his office to watch this fight between brothers unfold in the midst of the most confrontational atmosphere, President Erhürman walked through the line of police and demonstrators to reach the scene of the protest. Ultimately, this courageous step prevented the conflict from escalating further. It initially led to talks between the parties. Although these talks did not yield an immediate result at the time, they subsequently led to the government first revoking the statutory decree and then deciding to withdraw the bill in question back to the relevant parliamentary committee for further consideration.
All these events have, in effect, reminded us once again of the fact that the office of the President also serves as a balancing factor. When we consider this alongside a very significant decision taken by our judiciary, it becomes clear just how vital this balance—a key element of the separation of powers—truly is. The judicial decision in question was the Supreme Court’s ruling annulling some 400 Statutory Decrees. This is because the Executive had abused this constitutional provision, effectively placing itself in the position of Parliament and thereby rendering the Parliament—which is the fundamental and primary institution shaped by the will of the people—ineffective. Thus, it put a stop to the imposition of measures on the entire population. In other words, President Erhürman’s stance, together with the decision taken by the Supreme Court, has revived a forgotten value for society: the need for the separation of powers in a state of balance, which is the most important aspect of democracy. That is to say, the Executive will no longer be able to adopt an attitude of a ‘one man show’. In other words, the President and the Supreme Judicial Body have reminded us once again of the importance and value of balance.
What has brought these to light is the courageous exercise of the right to object to wrongdoing by democratic mass organisations, trade unions and people of different opinions. Furthermore, the first significant outcome of President Tufan Erhürman’s approach to developing relations with Turkey—as he has always stated, ‘not through submission or conflict, but through consultation’—has now been realised. The entry ban imposed on TRNC citizens entering Turkey, has been suspended for 15 TRNC citizens in the first instance. In other words, a concrete demonstration of how dialogue and self-expression can foster mutual positive outcomes has materialised. This development—which adds a positive dimension to relations with Turkey—has taken place in addition to the positive progress regarding the balance that is crucial in terms of domestic politics. These incidents highlight the importance of seeking new and different approaches in the political arena.
This article was first published on 11.05.2026
