Bahçeli's 'Cyprus should be our 82nd province' remarks spark crisis: MHP response was swift

In the presidential elections held in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Republican Turkish Party (CTP) candidate Tufan Erhürman had emerged victorious.

Dissatisfied with the election results, MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli used striking expressions regarding the TRNC in his speech at his party's group meeting. In his speech, Bahçeli argued that the TRNC should become a province of Turkey, stating, "After 81 Düzce, it has become a matter of life and death for the 82nd to be the TRNC."

This statement caused sharp reactions in TRNC politics and public opinion.

REACTION FROM CTP TO BAHÇELİ: "UNACCEPTABLE"

The CTP, the party of the election winner Tufan Erhürman, issued a statement regarding Bahçeli's words. The statement noted that Bahçeli's expressions were "contrary to the will and political equality of the Turkish Cypriot people."

The following statements were included in the CTP statement:

"It is our collective responsibility to maintain our democratic maturity and not allow statements that would undermine the trust of our people.

The expressions by Devlet Bahçeli, Chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), a political party of the Republic of Turkey, that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus should be Turkey's '82nd province' are completely contrary to the will, political equality, and international legal realities of the Turkish Cypriot people. It is unacceptable."

MHP'S RESPONSE WAS SWIFT

Following the CTP's statement, a harsh response came from the MHP side.

MHP Deputy Chairman Semih Yalçın accused the CTP of "impertinence" in a post on his social media account.

Yalçın used the following expressions in his statement:

"In the statement from the CTP, a disrespectful and condescending language was used towards our Chairman and the MHP. We strongly condemn this impertinence.

We remind the CTP, which has become spoiled very early, and all the ignorant who try to isolate themselves from Turkey's will, of this: The Turkish army did not save the Turkish Cypriots from Greek and Greek Cypriot oppression so that you could play at statehood as if you were playing house."

"THE HONOR OF TURKISH CYPRIOTS CANNOT BE TRAMPLED UPON"

In his post, Yalçın also conveyed his views regarding the MHP's Cyprus policy.

The statement emphasized that Turkey and Turkish nationalists are determined to protect the future of Turkish Cypriots.

The following statements were included in Yalçın's statement:

"We will not remain spectators to the future of Turkish Cypriotism being sacrificed to the monopolistic sovereignty dreams of the Greek side and the secret ambitions of Israel.

We will not allow the dignity and honor of Turkish Cypriotism to be trampled upon just to get EU aid.

The testament of the great Turkish nationalist Atatürk, that 'the security of Turkey's southern borders passes through Cyprus,' should be a lesson to all those who are eager."