The ongoing argument over whether ruling coalition party UBP ‘MP’ Ziya Ozturkler is or is not the north’s ‘parliament speaker’ became physical in ‘parliament’ on Monday, as he once again attempted to insist on presiding over proceedings.

Ozturkler had arrived in the chamber early in the morning to attempt to secure the seat, with ‘labour minister’ Sadik Gardiyanoglu and backbench UBP ‘MP’ Hasan Kucuk effectively acting as his bodyguards when they arrived, physically surrounding the steps up to the ‘speaker’s’ chair.

As the rest of the ‘MPs’ arrived later on Monday morning, members of the opposition attempted to prevent Ozturkler from taking the seat, with former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat’s son and opposition party CTP ‘MP’ Ongun Talat leading the charge on one side.

He was joined in the pushing match by CTP secretary-general Asim Akansoy, among others, with Gardiyanoglu and ‘agriculture minister’ Huseyin Cavus holding them back.

Raised voices continued throughout the morning as Ozturkler and the rest of the ruling coalition refused to vacate the seat, and the opposition refused to consent to Ozturkler presiding over the session.

CTP leader Tufan Erhurman then stood at the podium at the front of the chamber in front of the ongoing scuffle and shouted at the watching journalists at the back that his party had suggested that ‘deputy speaker’ Fazilet Ozdenefe preside over the morning’s agenda, thus allowing for the ‘parliamentary’ finance committee to begin discussing next year’s ‘state’ budget.

“We made our constructive suggestion,” he said, though the evidence of the morning’s events suggests the ruling coalition did not agree.

As tensions reached a crescendo and UBP ‘MP’ Emrah Yesilirmak held CTP ‘MP’ Erkut Sahali back from the ‘speaker’s’ chair first by his chest and then by his neck, CTP ‘MP’ Dogus Derya spotted an opening and reached the front of the chamber, picking up a bottle of water and throwing its contents over Ozturkler.

‘MPs’ then left the chamber shortly afterwards to hold meetings with each other aimed at finding a way forward, with Erhurman then addressing the waiting journalists outside.

“We said that we did not find it right to not resolve this issue for dialogue and for there to be a brawl. We have said since Saturday that this issue should be resolved through reason, democracy, and the rule of law,” he said.

He added, “we said we wanted to make parliament work. They said they want Ziya [Ozturkler] to open the session, and this, in our opinion, is against the law. We have said from the beginning that we will not accept a session to be opened by Ziya.”

Following meetings between ‘parliament’s’ parties, it was agreed that ‘parliament’ would be adjourned for a week, with the next planned session set for November 18.

The dispute stems from intra-‘parliamentary’ elections for a new ‘speaker’ last month, in which the ruling coalition insists Ozturkler was elected with 26 votes in his favour and 23 against, but the opposition insists three of the votes counted in his favour were invalid and he actually received 23 votes in his favour and 23 against.

On Friday, Erkut Sahali had said opposition ‘MPs’ “will not allow” Ozturkler to attend discussions over next year’s budget, telling the Cyprus Mail, “we will not give permission for the fake speaker to attend.”

However, with the dispute going on over the plenary session to allow the finance committee to meet to discuss the budget, it remains doubtful whether the budget will be discussed at all before the disagreement regarding who is ‘speaker’ is resolved.

‘Economy minister’ Olgun Amcaoglu had earlier expressed anxiety regarding the potential ramifications of the ongoing dispute on budget discussions, saying, “not starting budget discussions in the committee is the greatest evil which can be done to this country, a betrayal.”

He had also said the ‘government’ and the opposition “need to come together to consult on his issue again, but it should not be seen as a step back.”

Additionally, he said, the year 2025 will be “much more difficult” economically than previous years for Turkish Cypriots.