DP Secretary General Slams Denktaş’s Remarks as ‘Excessive and Inappropriate’

Akpınar said Denktaş’s remarks, made during a televised interview and widely circulated in the media, were received with regret and disappointment by the DP community. He stressed that, as a former long-serving chairman, Denktaş should be mindful of the public image he creates and act with greater responsibility.

Rejecting Denktaş’s allegations about the party’s current leadership and structure as unfounded, Akpınar noted, “Since Mr. Denktaş’s withdrawal from politics, the Democratic Party has entered a period of restructuring, rebuilding public trust through an inclusive and participatory political approach.”

He emphasised DP’s key role in the formation and continuation of the current government, describing it as one of the most stable coalition governments in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. “For this reason, we do not accept the language used against the government’s stability and our joint presidential candidate, Mr. Ersin Tatar,” Akpınar stated.

Addressing claims about Denktaş’s desire to return to the party, Akpınar confirmed that the request had been positively received. However, he said Denktaş’s intention to pursue this process alongside individuals and groups opposing the current leadership was deemed inappropriate by DP leader Fikri Ataoğlu. Nevertheless, Akpınar added, the door to reconciliation had personally been left open by Ataoğlu.

Akpınar concluded by saying that Denktaş’s recent statements had harmed not only the DP but also the broader political landscape of the country. “The Democratic Party remains a political movement that honours its past and is committed to the future, continuing to bear responsibility for the democratic values and social peace of the TRNC,” he said.