Prime Minister Ünal Üstel pledges to resign if paid military service law fails

Prime Minister Ünal Üstel outlined the government's legislative priorities and economic achievements during a recent television interview. The Prime Minister stated that a law for unconditional paid military service will be the first legislation presented to the Grand National Assembly by the new government. Ünal Üstel pledged to resign if the paid military service law is not brought to the Grand National Assembly.

Economic and social measures

The Prime Minister discussed several economic measures taken during the current administration's term. The government has increased the minimum wage from $500 to $1,550. Officials said the government has implemented three cost-of-living adjustments during its term to protect the purchasing power of workers. Ünal Üstel said, "The government has protected the purchasing power of workers."

The administration also announced plans to increase social security premium support for first-time employees to 100%. Regarding infrastructure and energy, the government aims to bring natural gas to the TRNC by 2028. The government aims to establish new power plants running on natural gas and accelerate the transition to renewable energy.

Healthcare and housing developments

The Prime Minister provided updates on several completed and ongoing infrastructure projects. The Girne Hospital, Girne Military Hospital, and Lapta Health Center have been completed. The Güzelyurt Hospital was also completed during the current government's term. Looking toward future projects, the Lefkoşa State Hospital is targeted for completion in 2027. The Karpaz Pamuklu Hospital is expected to be completed by the end of the year and open in the first months of 2027.

Regarding housing, the government is working on social housing projects in Alayköy, Varosha (Maraş), and Karpaz. The government also aims to make the country a digital island by the end of 2027. To support this, officials said the government is working on a fiber optic protocol signed with Türk Telekom. Additionally, the government is working on a project to bring electricity from Turkey via cable.

Upcoming elections

The Prime Minister's announcements come ahead of the upcoming elections scheduled for December 6. The current government has been in office since 2022. The regional economic situation has been affected by the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Glossary

• Grand National Assembly — The Grand National Assembly of Turkey (Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi) is an institution established on 23 April 1920. It is the body where Atatürk was elected as the first President of the Republic of Turkey.
• Karpaz — Karpaz is a peninsula that contains the Golden Beach, which is an important nesting area for sea turtles. It also contains the Karpaz Pamuklu Hospital and areas where the government is working on social housing projects.