TRNC Assembly schedules general elections for 6 December — on the same day as local elections

At an extraordinary session on 10 September, the TRNC Assembly approved by a majority vote holding general elections on 6 December 2026 — on the same day as local elections. Parliamentary elections had previously been expected to take place on 22 January 2027.

TRNC Prime Minister Ünal Üstel proposed holding the two elections together. In early August, he said the government was seeking to hold the local and early general elections “together on 6 December” and would therefore convene an extraordinary parliamentary session. The date of the local elections — 6 December 2026 — had been set earlier, while parliamentary elections under the existing calendar were scheduled for January 2027.

Holding the vote simultaneously required changes to the existing legislation, and the decision’s passage through parliament was not guaranteed: the governing coalition partners — the Democratic Party (DP) and the Rebirth Party (YDP) — were cautious about the idea. The government’s proposal was ultimately approved by a majority vote rather than unanimously.

The agenda of the same extraordinary session also includes two requests for a parliamentary investigation into the Filo Jet ferry disaster, which occurred off Girne. Deputies from the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) are demanding an inquiry into the causes of the tragedy, the procedure for issuing permits and conducting oversight, as well as possible negligence and administrative liability on the part of officials. The search for those missing has entered its 11th day.

In addition, deputies are considering a bill approving an additional protocol to the agreement with Turkey on the development of fibre-optic infrastructure, as well as amendments to the laws on elections and referendums, civil servants and the remuneration of public-sector employees.