Akpinar: TRNC On The Brink Of A Deep Crisis, National Council Must Be Formed Immediately

In a written statement, Akpinar pointed to the rapidly expanding war environment in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, saying developments in the region could directly affect the TRNC.

He said the tensions that began along the United States–Israel–Iran axis were growing in a way that could draw in Gulf countries, adding that the region had reached a new geopolitical breaking point that could directly impact the Eastern Mediterranean.

Akpinar argued that the current political administration in Northern Cyprus has failed to properly assess the scale of the crisis, saying correct decisions and steps cannot be taken within what he described as a narrow circle of thinking and a fragmented coordination structure.

He stressed that the issue facing the country goes far beyond tourism or security, warning that the real picture is much more serious. According to Akpinar, the main pillars of the country’s economy—particularly the higher education and tourism sectors—are facing a serious existential threat.

He said the higher education system, which relies heavily on international student mobility, and the tourism sector, which depends on global perception, are likely to be among the first and hardest-hit areas in a regional war atmosphere.

Akpinar also warned that the sustainability of credit mechanisms used across the economy is approaching a critical breaking point, noting that failure to take precautions could lead to economic contraction and the risk of sectoral collapse in the coming period.

Repeating a warning his party has issued for weeks, Akpinar called for the urgent creation of a National Council in the TRNC.

He said the President, the Prime Minister, coalition partners, opposition parties, and political parties represented outside parliament should come together immediately to establish a crisis management mechanism operating with “state wisdom.”

Akpinar said what is needed today is a sense of national responsibility and a unified state reflex that goes beyond daily political polemics, adding that the rapidly changing global political environment means the country will wake up to new realities every day.

He warned that international developments are beginning to fundamentally reshape not only military balances but also economic and social structures, stressing that the state must act strategically rather than reactively.

Reiterating the call for the immediate establishment of a National Council, Akpinar said the TRNC cannot withstand the crisis if it is caught unprepared.

“The cost of steps not taken today will be paid by the whole society tomorrow,” he said.

Akpinar added that the call was made out of a sense of state responsibility and stressed that the future of the TRNC can only be safeguarded through common sense and national solidarity beyond daily political calculations.