Political Parties in TRNC slam proposed Citizenship Law

Reactions to a new citizenship law discussed at the Assembly on Monday have been divided. The National Unity Party (UBP) and the coalition party (DP) are strongly against the newly proposed regulation which says that those working in the TRNC with a work permit will only be able to apply for TRNC citizenship after 15 year as opposed to the current 5 years.

Leader of the UBP Huseyin Ozgurgun said the change in the law was unacceptable and his party would vote against the new proposal.

Deputy of the Democratic Party (DP) Fikri Ataoglu said that the draft bill contravenes human and legal rights.

Meanwhile, deputy for the Social Democracy Party (TDP) Mehmet Cakici expressed full support for the government regarding the citizenship law and stated that the changes in the law are fair and legal since similar regulations exist in other EU countries.

Kutlay Erk, general secretary of the Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG) said that extending the waiting period before a person had the right to apply for citizenship needed to be reconsidered, and that 15 years was a very long time.

Detay