Prime Minister Ünal Üstel has become the new leader of the National Unity Party following the party’s extraordinary congress held on Sunday.

The UBP congress which convened extraordinarily after Faiz Sucuoğlu stepped down as the party’s leader earlier last week declared Üstel as the new leader.

There were no other candidates.

Addressing the party supporters, Prime Minister Ünal Üstel vowed to work for the welfare and prosperity of the UBP and the Turkish Cypriot people.

The National Unity Party (UBP) held its 13th extraordinary congress on Sunday, bringing Prime Minister Ünal Üstel to the party’s leadership.

Earlier last week, his predecessor Faiz Sucuoğlu announced he was stepping down in a bid to end the confusion within the party.

Addressing the party members first, the UBP General Secretary Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu called on the main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) to act as one voice on the issue of the Cyprus negotiations process and to embrace the concept of a two-state solution based on sovereign equality.

Hasipoğlu ended his speech by thanking both Sucuoğlu and Ünal Üstel for acting in the interest of the party.

Also addressing the congress, President Ersin Tatar said that he owed the UBP a great deal for his election as president.

He also highlighted the importance of relations with motherland Türkiye and of acting together on the National cause.

Tatar also thanked the Prime Minister Ünal Üstel and his team for the hard work they were putting in to overcome the problems the country was facing particularly due to the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

The president also pointed out that he will be departing for New York towards the end of this week and that he will be briefing parliament this week.

Tatar drew attention to the policies being pursued by the Turkish Cypriot side and said that there will be no sidetracking from the positions adopted with Türkiye.

He also criticized the CTP and called on all circles in the country to act with one voice.

Following the speeches, Ünal Üstel was declared by the congress council as the new party leader.

Delivering a thank you speech, the new UBP leader and Prime Minister Ünal Üstel vowed to work for the welfare and prosperity of the UBP and the Turkish Cypriot people.

Criticizing the opposition on its stance regarding domestic issues and the Cyprus Issue, Üstel accused various circles of not having the courage to take bold steps that will lead the country to brighter days.

“We will work, they will talk,” the UBP leader said.

Üstel said that the same attitude was being adopted on the Cyprus Issue with the opposition insisting on a federal settlement which will reduce Turkish Cypriots into a minority.

He added that the UBP fully supports a two-state solution.

Üstel also said that his government will continue to adopt reforms with Türkiye to address the country’s chronic problems.