Tufan Erhürman Pledges ‘Seriousness’ in Presidency, Says ‘Five Years Is Enough’

Speaking at the event, Erhürman said, “Joking and making humorous remarks are fine, but they must be done in moderation. If you talk about the state with pride in your chest, it demands seriousness. There is such a concept as ‘state seriousness.’ Nowhere in the world does a presidential candidate promise their voters: ‘I pledge state seriousness in the presidential office.’ Nowhere. But here, in our country, we even have to make such a pledge.”

‘FIVE YEARS IS ENOUGH; WE WON’T LET OUR CHILDREN LOSE OUT’

Addressing the large turnout in Haspolat, Erhürman noted, “I became a parliamentarian in 2013 and have come to Haspolat many times, but I have never seen Haspolat like this.” He added, “In a month, we will go to the ballot box and reflect our will. Democracy requires that at the end of a term, we look back and decide based on what has happened. If the past five years made our lives easier, secured our rights, and opened opportunities for our children, then giving five more years is acceptable. But if these years brought us hardship, made us worry about whether our children would want to live in this country, decreased our purchasing power, and left us deprived of happiness in this beautiful land, then five years is enough. We will not let our children lose out. We will not allow it.”

‘NATIONALISTS LEFT NOTHING, TURNED OUR ECONOMY INTO A FLOW TO THE SOUTH’

On the issue of citizenship for children of mixed marriages, Erhürman said, “European Union citizenship is as rightful for these children as their mother’s milk. Yet, for five years, Hristodulidis has flagrantly violated their rights. Those who should have defended these rights spent five years saying ‘I won’t even have coffee or a meal.’ Hristodulidis has neither the right nor the authority to interfere with whom our people marry, where they wed, or where they give birth.” He emphasized that Cypriot Turkish children must be granted the same rights as any Greek Cypriot child, regardless of where their parents were born.

Erhürman also criticized past nationalists, saying, “When they claim to be nationalists, what did they actually do? Within three years, they reversed the flow of the economy from north to south. Somehow, they made the south cheaper during the period when the euro was at 48. The gap in purchasing power between those who went south and those who stayed created a major division. Those who shouted nationalism turned our economy into one that daily sends people south. They made this country the most insecure in history.”

‘HASPOLAT HAS MADE ITS DECISION’

Erhürman continued, “The constitution says the president has the Republic Security Council; convene this council and ensure security. Five years have passed, and this council hasn’t met even once. No negotiations, no sovereign rights, no opening doors, no defense of our children’s rights. Five years of nothing—five completely empty years.” He reiterated, “Joking is fine, but it must be in moderation. State demands seriousness. Nowhere else in the world does a candidate pledge state seriousness in the presidential office—but here, we must. We will never let the Turkish Cypriot people be divided. Hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, we will walk toward better days. Either we rescue our children from this disorder, or we cannot endure another five years of this system. We have united our strength. No one will be able to manipulate exams or appointments unfairly,” signaling that Haspolat has made its decision.

DEVRİM BARÇIN: PRESIDENCY WILL BE ONCE AGAIN THE PEOPLE’S DOMAIN

CTP Nicosia District President and Member of Parliament Devrim Barçın also addressed the gathering, saying, “We are declaring our shared promise. Together, we will sign a new future. We know that justice, equality, democracy, and prosperity will come only through the will and power of the people.” Barçın added, “We are on this path with Tufan Erhürman to rebuild the country’s future. With his sincerity and honesty, he has earned the trust of the people. The presidency will, once again with Erhürman, be a place where the people hold the power. We will win together and be proud of our leader. Haspolat has made its decision.”