CTP outlines municipal plans ahead of December 6 elections

Nicosia, Cyprus. Sila Usar Incirli, leader of the Turkish Cypriot opposition party CTP, presented its municipal programme on Tuesday night ahead of local elections scheduled for December 6. Turkish Cypriots will also vote in legislative elections that day.

Seven incumbents seek another term

CTP enters the December vote holding seven of the 18 Turkish Cypriot mayoralties. Each of its incumbent mayors is seeking re-election: Suleyman Ulucay in Famagusta, Murat Senkul in Kyrenia, Ali Karavezirler in Kythrea and Louroujina, Yuksel Celebi in Dikomo, Aziz Kaya in Lefka, Ahmet Latif in Mesaoria, and Ceyhun Kirok in Ayios Epiktitos and Ayios Amvrosios.

The party has also backed the re-election bid of Mehmet Harmanci, the Turkish Cypriot mayor of Nicosia. Incirli ran against him in 2022.

Governance and infrastructure priorities

The manifesto, titled “Local Vision 2030”, groups CTP’s plans into five strands for the municipalities it wins in December.

Its first strand centres on integrity, transparency and participation in municipal administration. The party pledges responsible management of public resources, accountability and fiscal discipline, alongside greater public involvement in decisions.

The second focuses on planning, modernisation and accessibility in towns. CTP proposes developing infrastructure for roads, water, sewage and rainwater, making digital governance widely available and providing living spaces accessible to everyone.

Social support and environmental resilience

Under its third strand, CTP proposes an inclusive approach to municipal social services. Its commitments include developing care at home and social support, increasing nursery provision and after-school centres for children, empowering women and making gender equality a priority.

The fourth strand addresses cleaner, greener towns and resilience to climate change. The party pledges to encourage recycling, expand green areas and protect natural resources, while improving towns’ ability to withstand climate change.

Local livelihoods and identity

The fifth strand links local production and identity with prosperity shared across communities. CTP says it will support producers, artisans, small businesses and cooperatives locally, while strengthening environmental tourism, development in rural areas and the Cittaslow concept.

Founded in Italy, Cittaslow is an organisation seeking to improve life in towns worldwide by encouraging a slower overall pace. Its approach covers how spaces are used and how everyday life and traffic move through them.