CTP slams coalition over issuing ‘reckless’ citizenship in the north

THE Republican Turkish Party (CTP) has slammed the Turkish Cypriot authorities for distributing citizenships contrary to the “legislation on good governance” and to the principles of quality and justice.

In a written statement issued by the party on Friday, CTP said despite their warnings, the National Unity Party (UBP) and Democrat Party (DP) coalition recklessly granted citizenships to people without looking into whether they resided in the north or not, and without any reason, despite the fact that there were many foreigners who have been working more than ten years and waiting to become citizens of the “TRNC”.

Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis reported that following a ‘cabinet’ decision on July 31, a total of 57 citizenships were approved, with their names printed out across 19 pages of the ‘official’ gazette, according to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA).

According to the rules in the north, a person who obtains a working permit for ten consecutive years is eligible to apply for citizenship.

“If no case is opened against the illegal decision of the Council of Ministers, an attempt will be made to gain votes in return for citizenship. If the decision is challenged in court and the court cancels them (citizenships), the legal decision will be covered by the sauce of nationalism and they will claim that those who opened the case are against TRNC citizens who are of Turkish origin. It is time for everyone to acknowledge this tactic and the loss it causes on the people,” the CTP statement said.

The party said that it will do whatever it takes within the rule of law when it takes office.

Turkish Cypriots, in the meantime, took to social media demanding the ‘government’ explain itself and questioned the criteria in place, CNA reported.

 

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