TRNC rejects rotational presidency model and faces student transport delays

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is facing two distinct domestic and diplomatic developments.

In domestic affairs, Minister of Education Nazım Çavuşoğlu reported that student transportation services have not resumed despite a government-approved 40 percent rate increase. Çavuşoğlu stated that while a protocol was prepared and sent to transport associations Kar-İş and KTTTB, the parties failed to sign the agreement by the deadline, causing delays in the start of the school year.

Diplomatically, the TRNC Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement rejecting the proposed “rotational presidency” model for Cyprus. The Ministry argued that such a model is “diametrically opposed” to the principles of sovereign equality and equal international status maintained by the TRNC and Turkey. The Ministry further criticized initiatives in the European Parliament regarding “two seats” for Turkish Cypriots, asserting that such moves would validate the status of the so-called Republic of Cyprus, which the TRNC does not recognize.