Erhürman: "The Last Four and a Half Years Have Been Wasted Time"

Speaking on Sabah Postası with Gökhan Altıner on Kıbrıs Postası TV, Erhürman criticized the current administration, asserting that politics should be about solving problems, not creating them.

"Politics is the Art of Problem-Solving, Not Problem-Making"

Erhürman stressed that those claiming to govern the country must understand that leadership is about finding solutions rather than generating new issues. He pointed out significant problems in education, healthcare, and the economy, stating, "If you intend to govern, you should focus on solving existing issues instead of creating new ones. However, this administration continuously generates new problems."

Highlighting the serious challenges in education, Erhürman noted concerns such as infrastructure, the education of children whose native language is not Turkish, and issues of equality. He criticized the government for prioritizing unnecessary regulations over addressing these fundamental problems, citing recent disputes over headscarf policies in schools.

"The administration introduced a regulation without consulting teachers. If you think there is an issue, you solve it through dialogue, not imposition," he stated.

"If You Can't Solve Problems, You Should Leave"

Erhürman pointed out that the government has been forced to retract multiple decisions due to a lack of proper consultation. "When making decisions, you must follow the right procedures and engage in dialogue with the relevant parties, such as teachers. The central focus should be on students, yet this government lacks a problem-solving mindset," he remarked.

Emphasizing that conflicts should be resolved before they escalate, he said, "If students are now protesting, that is the government's failure. The longer an issue remains unresolved, the harder it becomes to fix. The government must act immediately to resolve this matter."

Erhürman also noted that teachers’ grievances are not with students or parents but with the authorities. He called for an end to tensions, warning that targeting teachers would not resolve the issue. "The only solution is open and proper dialogue with teachers. If you cannot solve problems, then you should step down," he asserted.

"We Stand for the Rule of Law"

Discussing relations between the Turkish Cypriot and Turkish people, Erhürman described them as special and deep-rooted. "From the far-left to the far-right, every Turkish Cypriot feels connected to the people of Turkey," he said, using sports as an example of this bond.

He acknowledged that political developments in Turkey affect the Turkish Cypriot community, as many hold both TRNC and Turkish citizenship. "It is natural for people to react to these developments. Our concern, however, is that democracy, human rights, and social peace in Turkey should never be in question," he stated.

Erhürman emphasized that these issues are not merely economic but also impact people's morale. "We cannot ignore what happens in Turkey. We need dialogue with Turkey, and Turkey needs dialogue with us. Good relations should be built on the right foundations. Our stance is always in favor of the rule of law, human rights, and social peace," he said.

He also criticized the UBP-DP-YDP coalition government, arguing that their governance has contributed nothing to the country and has instead wasted time while creating unnecessary problems.

"The Turkish Cypriot People Want a Solution, Including on the Cyprus Issue"

Regarding the informal 5+1 meeting in Geneva, Erhürman noted that expectations should not have been high. "For four years, Ersin Tatar refused even to have a meal with the other side," he remarked, criticizing the lack of dialogue.

Erhürman stressed that a significant portion of the Turkish Cypriot community seeks a resolution to the Cyprus issue. "People do not want to continue living within the current status quo. They want integration with the world and an end to the Cyprus problem," he stated, citing economic challenges such as the southward shift in economic activity, citizenship rights for children of mixed marriages, and the lack of new border crossings.

He also noted that Turkish Cypriots have lost their agency in negotiations. Despite the delay, he welcomed the resumption of high-level dialogue, stating, "Confidence-building measures and diplomatic engagement could have emerged from Geneva. While the appointment of a personal envoy and talks scheduled for July are small steps, they still represent progress. If we have moved from zero to one, that is still an improvement."

Reiterating that the past four and a half years have been a period of lost opportunities, Erhürman emphasized that solutions can only be reached through diplomacy and dialogue. "Just as in every issue, the Turkish Cypriot people want a solution to the Cyprus problem. Our approach will always be solution-oriented," he concluded.