Turkish Cypriot legislature votes again to abolish mixed voting

Nicosia, Cyprus. The Turkish Cypriot legislature voted on Tuesday for a second time to abolish mixed voting in legislative elections, after Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman vetoed the law following its passage earlier this month. The change comes ahead of an election likely to be held in December.

Lawmakers approve change

An extraordinary session was called to reconsider the law after Erhurman’s veto. The measure passed by 28 votes to 10.

At the next election, voters will be able to choose candidates from only one party. In all previous elections, they could select individual candidates from multiple parties.

No election date has been set. A vote is scheduled for Thursday next week to determine the date, with December 6 considered likely. Turkish Cypriot local elections are also due to be held that day.

Dispute over timing

‘Prime minister’ Unal Ustel criticised Erhurman’s veto, saying electoral laws had previously been amended with only 60, 78 or 90 days remaining before an election.

Ustel also rejected Erhurman’s reference to Turkey, where electoral changes take effect only one year after they are passed to prevent those in power from changing the system at the last minute for their own benefit. “It is not right for Erhurman to use the Republic of Turkey’s constitution as an example. This is the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and we have our own separate constitution,” he said.

Opposition CTP leader Sila Usar Incirli said she believed the change was being made for electoral expediency. Addressing lawmakers, she said they had convened parliament to abolish mixed voting with 68 days until the election. She added that the election should have been held much earlier, as she said the public wanted.