Talip Atalay’s Statement on Ballot Papers: “We Had to Prove It!”

Speaking on the “Sabah Postası” program hosted by Gökhan Altıner on Kıbrıs Postası, Atalay addressed the incidents in Parliament and the discussions regarding ballot papers. He noted that the situation in Parliament has disturbed the public and said, “I apologize to all our people for what happened in Parliament. We did not deserve this, and we still do not.”

“I can say on behalf of myself and Mr. Erhan that, even though it was not ethical, we had to prove and demonstrate to avoid any suspicion. This is a very embarrassing situation; unfortunately, despite this, our names were still mentioned,” Atalay explained, adding that they took precautions and provided evidence regarding the ballot papers.

Emphasizing the importance of honesty in politics, Atalay said, “We are going through a period where politics is being conducted with lies and deceit. We need to avoid such practices. Being in such a situation did not suit us.” He also underlined that the incidents in Parliament have tarnished the state’s reputation and highlighted the necessity for the political institution to maintain public trust.

Hasan Küçük Also Explained the Folding of Ballot Papers

UBP MP Hasan Küçük also made a statement on October 9, noting that during the closed-envelope voting for the Speaker of Parliament election, the ballot papers were folded in a way that allowed the president to see them before being placed into the ballot box. He mentioned informing Prime Minister Ünal Üstel about this matter.