Ayşe Öztabay, the Social Democracy Party (TDP) candidate for Kyrenia, has stated that Turkish Cypriots are not helpless in the face of the country's challenges, describing her party's primary goal as dismantling what she called a pervasive "sense of helplessness and powerlessness" in society. Speaking on a television programme, Öztabay said TDP's political struggle is firmly grounded in the principles of the rule of law, justice and accountability.
Öztabay stressed that citizens expect not just promises but tangible results from their elected representatives. She called on parliamentarians to uphold honesty, transparency and responsibility throughout their terms, arguing that serving the public inherently means being answerable to the public.
On the issue of parliamentary immunity, Öztabay noted that all TDP candidates have signed a commitment to waive their immunities beyond parliamentary speech immunity. "We are against immunity being used as a tool to avoid accountability," she said, adding on a personal note: "If I am questioned over a matter that serves my own interests or casts a shadow on my integrity — outside the principles I defend for this people — I will answer for it."
Öztabay attributed TDP's rising poll numbers to sustained grassroots organising and consistent engagement with communities, particularly on women's rights, legal reform and broader social issues. She concluded that TDP will continue to take responsibility for the country's future and work alongside citizens to generate solutions.
