CYPRUS MIRROR
reading time: 6 min.

Ulaş Barış writes..."Absurdities in the Land of Absurdities"

Ulaş Barış writes..."Absurdities in the Land of Absurdities"

Kıbrıs Postası columnist Ulaş Barış writes about the latest absurdities in the TRNC...

Publish Date: 30/10/24 14:23
reading time: 6 min.
Ulaş Barış writes..."Absurdities in the Land of Absurdities"
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In the Newborn Unit of a hospital, infant formula is being mixed with ethyl alcohol instead of water. Not just once, but at least twice! Tragically, one infant has lost their life, while six others are in intensive care. Thankfully, their conditions are stable.

This shocking incident has sparked outrage throughout the country, even making headlines in the global media. However, as of Monday afternoon when these lines were written, there has been no resignation or dismissal of any officials involved. In Japan, the responsible doctor would likely commit suicide; in Norway, the health minister would resign. But this is the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), and things operate differently here!

In the aftermath, various officials have rushed to make statements, each adding to the cacophony. If the guilty parties end up being justified, don’t be surprised; anything is possible in this environment.

Meanwhile, the media is in a frenzy, competing to report on the incident, resulting in a muddle of misinformation. In this climate, everyone seems to be a journalist, motivated solely by the desire for clicks, leading to a horrifying cacophony of conflicting information.

And as if that weren’t absurd enough, consider this: someone who is clearly ineligible for the position of Speaker of the Assembly goes ahead and opens a parliamentary session, while the opposition boycotts it! Despite the obvious illegitimacy of the multiple seals used during the Assembly Speaker election, which should render those votes invalid, despite the Assembly's legal advisors still declare them invalid, the decision is even published in the Official Gazette!

In the TRNC, such blatant disregard for legality is a norm. Yesterday, this self-proclaimed Speaker opened the Assembly and then gave the opposition a week to nominate a candidate for the vice-presidency before adjourning. While everyone's stance is clear, the Assembly is locked for another week, with no one questioning why a delay was necessary when positions were already established.

The opposition leader, after the absurdity of the situation, emphasized the rule of law, stating, “the same issues will arise again in a week.” Is there any political stance to take? No! Instead, there is a reliance on legal arguments while hoping that the courts will take action.

Last week, the person occupying the presidential seat of the country attended a meeting of the governing party's Executive Board and made a speech there. This person is a party member, not a president for everyone—only for some. During the speech, filled with political absurdities, he discussed his visa negotiations with Australia. Apparently, he requested a visa, and they said, “We can offer you a tourist visa,” leading him to respond, “Am I Tourist Ömer?”

This reference to the iconic character from Turkish cinema unexpectedly brought the Cyprus issue into the conversation, causing social media to explode with reactions!

But does the average tourist care? Not at all! Instead, he leaves the country for a trip to Turkey while appointing a clearly unsuitable new Assembly Speaker as his deputy.

Following his meeting, the party issued a statement absurdly justifying the multiple seals on ballots, claiming, “Voters used multiple seals to express a stronger will.”

Social media erupted once more, drowning in humor, jokes, and further absurdities, but this is the TRNC, where bad jokes never run out!

Additionally, last week, the country’s business associations held protests against the high cost of living, ceasing imports. Then, in a twist, they issued a statement requesting incentives from the government!

If you were to ask, “If life is so expensive, are you one of the culprits responsible for it?” you might find yourself labeled an enemy of business!

What have these groups done so far against the soaring prices? Have they ever supported the public by saying, “That critical food item shouldn't cost so much, and that service charge is outrageous”? They have not!

In fact, every time the minimum wage increased, they also raised prices! They’ve trapped the country in a vicious cycle, and now they lament about inflation while asking the helpless government for incentives! Incredible!

Moreover, the most significant support for these groups comes from the so-called socialist, pro-labor opposition, which adds another layer of mystery. But this is the TRNC, where mysteries never end, and absurdities abound!

I conclude this article here, as I am utterly fed up with both the absurdities and the mysteries surrounding us!

Truly, enough is enough!

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