End of an Era: TRNC Parliament Bids Farewell to Historic Building

The now-retired Parliament building bore witness to landmark moments in Turkish Cypriot history, including the proclamation of the Republic and the community’s long struggle for sovereignty, democracy, and freedom.

The building was the site of pivotal debates, historic decisions, and emotional declarations. Among the most iconic was the proclamation of the TRNC on 15 November 1983 by Founding President Rauf Raif Denktaş, whose voice echoed through the chamber with the words: “This achievement belongs to all of you. The mist has cleared from the mountaintop—let’s march forward, friends.”

Initially serving as the final headquarters of the 55th battalion, the structure became the seat of the TRNC legislature after the Atatürk Square Parliament building used during the Turkish Cypriot Federated State period was deemed insufficient. Over the past 41 years, the Parliament building has transcended its role as a legislative venue, becoming a symbol of collective memory, public will, and the Turkish Cypriot fight for recognition.

It was within these walls that independence was declared and voted upon, where reform laws were passed, and where countless commemorations and public demonstrations took place. The building evolved into a landmark embodying the aspirations, emotions, and resilience of the Turkish Cypriot people.

Over the four decades since the Republic’s founding, 13 different politicians have served as Speaker of the Assembly. Among them, Fatma Ekenoğlu and Sibel Siber made history as the first women to hold the position.

As the TRNC turns the page on a building so closely tied to its identity, the move to a new facility marks both an end and a new beginning for the country's democratic journey.