Denktaş: “This Country Is No Longer Governable”

“We are structuring a party not burdened by outdated slogans and stagnation, but guided by solutions to real problems. Everyone in our team is specialised in their field and deeply concerned about the future of this country,” he said.

Responding to a question by journalist Mustafa Alkan on why he chose to establish a new party, Denktaş stated: “I had long considered a presidential candidacy, but at this point, responding to the country’s real needs seemed the best path. For the next 5–10 years, there will likely be no major development in the Cyprus issue. However, the country’s concrete problems are at a standstill. Society is in disarray, and in such a context, the best alternative was to establish a new political party. The so-called rival parties UBP and CTP are what I call ‘enemy brothers’—they are part of the problem. And the remaining parties lack the political experience this country desperately needs.”

“There Is a Breakdown in Governance”

Highlighting widespread disillusionment with politics, Denktaş criticised the current administration’s failure to govern effectively. “The country is in a state of mismanagement, but the real crisis is the absence of governance itself. We have a president whose every speech brings us shame. Our youth are hopeless, families are anxious, and we’ve lost our internal peace. The education and healthcare systems have collapsed. We are working with experts in these areas as a priority.”

“We Welcome All Who Care About This Country”

Denktaş emphasised that his party includes professionals who have never been involved in politics before but have proven themselves in their fields. “Many competent people have stayed away from politics because of the prevailing political climate. But we need these individuals now more than ever. Being part of a political party doesn’t mean one must become an MP. Experts can contribute in various roles. We will revive hope by addressing every dysfunction. Our approach is unlike anything seen before. We are ambitious, and we welcome anyone with a vision and concern for this country to walk with us.”

He also noted that the physical infrastructure of the party—its headquarters and district offices—has been made possible by contributions from within the founding team.

“Slander and Character Assassination Will Not Stick”

Addressing long-standing rumours and accusations, Denktaş stated that he had been subjected to deliberate defamation campaigns. “I’ve been out of active politics for nearly five years, and I have no parliamentary immunity. Yet no one has produced a single document to back their accusations. Claims that I held shares in hotels, owned nightclubs, or received certain gifts were all false. Where are these accusers now? None of it was true,” he said.

“I Introduced Many Firsts in This Country”

Reflecting on his political career, Denktaş expressed some regret over not publicising his achievements more actively. “I always focused on the future rather than what I had done. But I now realise that a large segment of the population, especially the youth, doesn’t know my past contributions. I introduced many firsts to this country—opening of the crossing points, mobile phones, internet, private television broadcasting, and shifting from a budget deficit to a surplus in the finance ministry. These were once thought impossible. We made them happen then, and we will succeed again.”