Government in Turkish Cyprus offers resignation

The coalition government in Turkish Cyprus has offered its resignation after losing the majority in parliament. "I observed that the government could not continue further," Prime Minister Ersan Saner told reporters.

Wednesday October 13 2021 04:56 pm

Ersan Saner speaks to reporters after submitting the government's resignation.

Duvar English - Reuters

The coalition government in Turkish Cyprus has offered its resignation to the president after it lost its majority in parliament, its prime minister said on Oct. 13 as he called for early elections.

Cyprus's internationally recognized government is run by Greek Cypriots, while the breakaway administration in the north of the Mediterranean island is only recognized by Turkey.

"I observed that the government could not continue further," Prime Minister Ersan Saner told reporters after conveying the resignation to Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, whom he said was assessing the decision.

He said the resignation of the government, formed last year, came after the three-party coalition lost its majority in the enclave's parliament and he said an early election should be held as soon as possible.

Cyprus was split by a 1974 Turkish invasion triggered by a brief Greek-inspired coup. Friction predates that by at least a decade, when a power-sharing administration of Greek and Turkish Cypriots crumbled amid violence three years after independence from Britain.

Tatar, who won a presidential election run-off a year ago against Mustafa Akıncı, has strong relations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and, like Ankara, supports the principle of having two separate administrations on the island rather than reunification.