Özdenefe: Population Census to Be Held Within 12–15 Months If CTP Takes Office

Özdenefe was a guest on “Sabah Postası,” a programme hosted by Gökhan Altıner on Kıbrıs Postası TV.

“HIGH-INTEREST LOANS ARE PRESENTED AS IF THEY WERE AN ACHIEVEMENT”

Criticising the government, Özdenefe said infrastructure investments by the Republic of Turkey had been made under successive administrations, but the current government was presenting these projects as its own achievements.

Recalling that her party had handed over the country with a budget surplus seven years ago, Özdenefe said the Finance Ministry had remained in surplus despite the Pastor Brunson crisis and the payment of military expenses.

She said that salaries were now being paid with borrowed money every month, sometimes twice in a single month.

“Loans taken out at high interest rates are being presented as if they were an achievement,” she said.

Özdenefe argued that the government had depleted public resources and must first account for how the money had been spent. She said that if CTP took office, it would inherit debts amounting to 50 billion TL.

“They present borrowing as a favour or an achievement, while saying, quite disrespectfully, that the Republic of Turkey is our friend and that its concern is not Cyprus. What do Ünal Üstel and Erhan Arıklı mean by this? Does the Republic of Turkey have no concerns about Turkish Cypriots, the guarantor system or the region? This is an enormous display of disrespect and a complete failure of reason,” she said.

“A POPULATION CENSUS WILL BE HELD WITHIN 12–15 MONTHS”

Özdenefe said security concerns had gone far beyond traffic issues and had spread into numerous areas. She attributed the situation to appointments made without regard for merit and a lack of oversight.

She said the female employment rate stood at 39 per cent and youth unemployment at 15 per cent. Meanwhile, citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) accounted for approximately 46 per cent of the existing workforce, meaning they made up less than half of those in employment, she said.

Addressing the need for a population census, Özdenefe pledged that it would be conducted within 12 to 15 months if CTP formed the government.

She said the party would examine whether the census should be carried out through door-to-door visits or a hybrid method. Regardless of the approach chosen, streets and addresses would need to be systematically mapped and recorded, she added.

Özdenefe stressed the importance of determining who was in the country as a student, who was employed and who was residing illegally. She also pointed to uncontrolled entries and exits, saying measures would be introduced at the country’s entry points.

“PEOPLE HAVE LOST FAITH IN FAIRNESS”

Özdenefe said her party had prepared plans to reform the Prime Ministry’s Inspection Department within 100 days of taking office.

As an example, she said the party would ensure that the Finance Inspection Department could carry out its duties free from political pressure.

She argued that Finance Inspection reports were currently subject to the discretion of political authorities, creating concerns that they could be shelved without action.

Özdenefe said an anti-corruption authority would be established and existing institutions strengthened.

She concluded by saying that people had lost faith in fairness.