Hasipoğlu: Removal Of Mixed Voting Has Been On The Agenda Since 2023

Labour and Social Security Minister Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu was a guest on the “Sabah Postası” programme hosted by Gökhan Altıner on Kıbrıs Postası TV.

Hasipoğlu commented on the decision by the Parliamentary Committee on Legal and Political Affairs, Foreign Relations and Defence to approve by majority vote the “Bill on Amendments to the Elections and Referendum Law”, which had been referred back to the committee from the General Assembly for further consideration, and to send it to the General Assembly agenda.

“THE ISSUE WAS FIRST RAISED IN 2023 AND REFERRED TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY; IT IS NOT A LAST-MINUTE PROPOSAL”

Hasipoğlu stressed that the abolition of mixed voting was not a “last-minute proposal”, saying that the political will to remove the system had been put forward in 2023.

He said he had also raised the issue with Asım Akansoy, who was CTP secretary-general at the time, and that Akansoy had supported the abolition of mixed voting.

Hasipoğlu said the issue had been discussed four times in the committee in 2023, with representatives of political parties and legal circles taking part, and that the bill had subsequently been referred to the General Assembly but was later returned to the committee following a change in position.

He therefore argued that the regulation was not a “last-minute” decision, adding that the bill had gone through the committee process for a second time before being referred to the General Assembly.

“DP AND YDP ALSO SUPPORT ABOLISHING MIXED VOTING”

Hasipoğlu said the coalition partners, the Democratic Party (DP) and Rebirth Party (YDP), had stated during yesterday’s committee meeting that they supported the abolition of mixed voting.

He argued that the CTP’s position that it would support the proposal only if there was an agreement within the government was unrealistic, saying political parties should clearly state their positions.

“CTP IS A PARTY THAT FAILS TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP WHEN IT COMES TO IMPLEMENTATION”

Hasipoğlu accused the CTP of failing to stand by its own position, saying the party had created the impression of being “a party that cannot take the next step when it comes to implementation.”

He said parliamentary committees were continuing their work on mixed voting and that an extraordinary parliamentary session would definitely be held on the issue.

Hasipoğlu said the bill to abolish mixed voting had gone through the committee process again and been referred to the General Assembly, adding that the next stage would be conducted in the Parliamentary General Assembly.

“WE CURRENTLY HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY THE 13TH-MONTH SALARY THREE TIMES”

Meanwhile, Hasipoğlu said a strong social insurance system had been established and that funds in the Social Insurance system had reached TL 13 billion.

“We currently have enough money to pay the 13th-month salary three times,” Hasipoğlu said, adding that the government provided TL 400 million in monthly premium support to employers.

He said the support had reached producers, tradespeople and a total of 80,000 employees.