Turkish Cypriot UBP party faces leadership crisis following primary elections

The largest Turkish Cypriot political party, the UBP, is embroiled in a significant internal crisis following the primary elections held on October 24, 2026, at the Ataturk sports hall in Nicosia. Over 8,900 party members voted to select candidates for the upcoming legislative elections scheduled for December 6. Following the announcement of results, 17 formal appeals were filed, alleging fraud and irregularities.

In response to the controversy, 'health minister' Hakan Dincyurek resigned from his position and withdrew his candidacy, citing his belief that the process was fraudulent. Party leadership subsequently rejected all 17 appeals. This decision effectively ends the parliamentary careers of several prominent incumbents, including 'parliament speaker' Ziya Ozturkler, Emrah Yesilirmak, and Firtina Karanfil, who failed to secure spots on the final candidate list.

Amidst the internal turmoil, 'prime minister' Unal Ustel traveled to Ankara for meetings with high-level Turkish officials, including Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. Upon his return, Ustel defended the integrity of the primary process, describing it as transparent and participatory. He dismissed the objections as the result of candidate disappointment and invited dissenters to leave the party if they disagreed with the established outcome.