Ünal Üstel: "We Overcame Difficult Times by Ensuring Stability"

Speaking on a special broadcast hosted by Levent Kutay on BRT, Üstel stated that his administration had managed to overcome challenging periods by establishing this much-needed stability.

As the UBP’s congress approaches, Üstel made significant remarks, explaining, "We will hold the congress with our 22,000 members. Of course, MPs within the party can also run for leadership. This is a democratic race, and they are our own people."

He went on to express confidence in the outcome of the congress, describing it as a “democratic celebration” for the party, showcasing the party's internal democracy.

"The Result is Clear; Congratulations to Our Country"

Üstel confidently stated, "The result is already clear, and I congratulate our country in advance." He stressed the unity within the UBP, emphasizing that, despite internal competition, the party remained united with its focus always on the well-being of the people.

"We Ensured Stability and Overcame These Difficult Days"

Reflecting on his time in office, Üstel remarked, "We were called upon to lead, and as the party chairman, I have always prioritized the public. Since taking office, we have strengthened unity within the party, worked closely with ministers and MPs, and left our mark on the country."

Üstel also noted his distinction as the longest-serving prime minister, pointing out that the inability to maintain stable governance in the past hindered progress. "We ensured stability and, as a result, overcame these challenging times," he added.

Local Governance Reforms and Strengthening Municipalities

Üstel mentioned reforms made in local governance, reducing the number of municipalities from 28 to 18, following reports by the World Bank in 2007-2008. He emphasized that this decision strengthened municipalities financially, allowing them to pay their employees and serve the public more efficiently.

"We Will Solve the Energy Problem Completely"

Touching on the energy issue, Üstel highlighted long-standing problems and outlined steps taken by his government to resolve them. "We prepared the generators, and seven out of eight mobile generators are now operational. We have also added 100 KW to the Electrical Authority and are working on bringing electricity from Turkey by cable, aiming to solve the issue completely by 2029," he explained.

"We Did Not Let Our Citizens Suffer from the High Cost of Living"

Addressing economic concerns, Üstel stated, "We did not let our citizens suffer from the high cost of living. We made the minimum wage tax-exempt and aligned it with that of South Cyprus. We took necessary steps to protect the purchasing power of our people."

"We Completed Ercan Airport"

Üstel praised the completion of Ercan Airport under his government, noting that the project, which had been delayed since 2016, was finally brought to fruition. He also discussed ongoing roadwork projects, including the Lefkoşa bypass, which he said would greatly alleviate traffic in the region.

"We Shared Our Grief in Solidarity as a State"

Lastly, Üstel expressed his deep sorrow for the victims of the February 6 earthquake, particularly the "Champion Angels" who lost their lives. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to sharing the grief of the nation through solidarity.