By ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ (GREEK) TÜRKÇE (TURKISH)
While a cabinet reshuffle is expected after the budget, the process of accountability for the electoral crisis will also begin
In this period when the Cyprus problem has returned to the agenda, the crisis in the election of the speaker of the parliament is overwhelming us more than necessary.
We see that even those who have defended the legitimacy of the election result on the grounds that “three votes with double seals is a demonstration of the voter’s will”, or “there is nothing written in the statute that suggests such voting is invalid” are desperately clinging to yesterday’s election results. We have also witnessed the acceptance that what was argued yesterday is completely insincere.
Ziya Öztürkler’s resignation was the right step. The fact that UBP re-nominated him in order not to offend him ensured that the process was set on the right ground.
Following the step taken yesterday—after it was realised that a controversial speaker of parliament would not provide continuity—Ziya Öztürkler sat in the seat of the parliamentary speaker with more confidence.
Since the election of the speaker of the parliament was held by secret ballot, the trump cards of those who acted outside of party policy without reflecting their will to the public, who acted contrary to what they said in group meetings, and stalled the previous round of elections were also exhausted.
On the vote for the budget, discussion of which started today with a delay in the committee, since the UBP deputies who created the crisis during the election cannot openly vote for a rejection, this process will be resolved before the New Year.
Prime Minister Ünal Üstel – who was elected as party chairman with a significant vote, but was blocked in the election of the speaker of the parliament, could not elect the UBP Secretary General in the shadow of this crisis, and could not enter the process of forming the Central Executive Board – will initiate a period of accountability, even though he says “it is time to serve the people” now.
We lived through a month in which the government and UBP were incapacitated. UBP members, whom we asked if those responsible for this are known, say “yes”. We know that efforts were made to identify those who acted outside the UBP Group decision through the use of different methods during the voting process. Although it is not clearly known who these people are, I think that Üstel will attempt to hold them to account when the day comes, in line with his strong conviction.
Following the approval of the budget, a cabinet reshuffle awaits us. In line with my impressions, I expect at least three ministers to be changed. Those I foresee to be dismissed in the reshuffle process will not be directly related to the issue of accountability I mentioned above. The balances within UBP and the sides taken during the congress process are one reason. The other is those who constantly have problems with their ministry stakeholders without the ability to produce any solutions, and are really very unsuccessful in their duties. For the given reasons, this reshuffle process seems inevitable.
We are living in a period where the answer to the question of whether there is a very successful minister is ‘no’. However, some of them are so bad that everything in their fields has gotten even worse.
Although the crisis of the speaker of the parliament brings to mind early elections, I see that we are moving in line with Prime Minister Ünal Üstel’s promise that they will “be in government until 2027”. The promise of “it is time to work now” can thus become credible with a renewed cabinet. The spirit of the current cabinet is consumed. With the approval of the budget and the renewal of the cabinet, the presidential elections and the Cyprus problem may also find a place in our agenda.
I hope that the days when the government will focus on economic and social problems, and the President will take constructive steps regarding the Cyprus problem are not far away.
Source: SERVICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY
