Arıklı: YDP Aims to Win Nine Seats and Become Kingmaker

Arıklı also discussed possible post-election government formations, saying his party would be open to cooperation with either party if its demands were fulfilled.

According to a statement from the YDP Press Office, Arıklı appeared on several programmes to discuss the election, potential coalitions and current affairs. These included Diğerleri, hosted by Elif Evrensel on Genç TV; a programme presented by journalist Hadi Özışık; and İkna Noktası Özel, hosted by Ayşegül Şengül on Turkey-based Lider Haber TV.

“We Are in a Kingmaker Position”

Commenting on the December 6 election, Arıklı claimed that YDP was gaining support and ranked third among the three parties polling above the electoral threshold. He described the party as being in a position to determine the balance of power in Parliament.

“We have around 15% of the vote. According to the polls, we are expected to win an average of nine seats, taking nine of the 50 seats in Parliament. However, I believe this figure will increase further as we approach the final days of the campaign,” he said.

Arıklı alleged that his party’s departure from the government had been a political move intended to prevent YDP from gaining support. He claimed that interest in the party had increased during the ensuing period.

Describing YDP as a mass party bringing together people from different political viewpoints and social backgrounds, Arıklı argued that the existing political order needed to change.

“This order, this system, this status quo cannot continue like this any longer,” he said.

“We Can Form a Coalition With Either Party if Our Conditions Are Met”

Arıklı said he did not expect any single party to secure enough seats to govern alone after the election.

“There are no eternal resentments or eternal friendships in politics. If I were to say that I would never form a coalition with a particular party, that would be an apolitical position. Of course, we can form a coalition with either party if our conditions are met,” he said.

Arıklı claimed that some provisions of the coalition protocol signed during the previous government had not been implemented. In any future coalition, he said, YDP would insist that the measures agreed upon be given a timetable and made public.

He identified public-sector reform, e-Government, public transport, trade union legislation and economic regulations as among YDP’s priorities.

Ship Disaster and Removal From Office

Arıklı also addressed the maritime disaster off Kyrenia, discussing the vessel’s technical inspections, the authority of Türk Loydu, the responsibilities of the Department of Ports and the ongoing judicial proceedings.

Commenting on the process that led to his removal from office by Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, Arıklı said he had been told that the decision was necessary to protect the integrity of the investigation.

Labour and the Economy

Arıklı called for trade union membership to become compulsory in the private sector, arguing that the trade union system should be reorganised in line with European Union criteria.

He said his party was working on a financing model intended to enable approximately 10,000 housewives to qualify for retirement through a system based on the one in Turkey.

Arıklı also stressed that privatisation should be conducted transparently and subject to oversight.

He commented on the minimum wage, the rising cost of living, the prices of essential consumer goods, the meat market and import policies.

Cyprus Issue and Infrastructure Projects

Arıklı also outlined his views on relations between Turkey and the TRNC, the debate over a federal settlement versus a two-state solution, international recognition of the TRNC, developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and military activity in southern Cyprus.

The programmes also addressed Ercan Airport, road investments, fibre-optic infrastructure, public transport and other transport projects.