Erhan Arıklı, leader of the Rebirth Party (YDP) and Minister of Public Works and Transportation, addressed key issues within the government and his party during an appearance on BRT’s “50+1” program, hosted by Levent Kutay.

Arıklı emphasized that the final decision on whether the YDP will remain in the government will be determined by the Party Assembly after a series of consultation meetings with party members.

While expressing his personal view that the party should stay in the government, he stressed the need for stability in the Üstel government until the next presidential election.

Speaking about recent discussions within the YDP on BRT, the leader of the Rebirth Party Arıklı referred to a highly critical meeting of the YDP High Advisory Board held on Saturday.

He revealed that the board had voiced overwhelming opposition to remaining in the government, citing dissatisfaction with the administration’s inability to address critical issues.

Party members, he said, have raised concerns, stating: “If we’re not achieving anything meaningful that impacts people’s lives, others could have handled projects like roads or Ercan Airport. What have you done for party members? We cannot provide employment, citizenship applications face delays, and even rightful requests are not being fulfilled.”

Arıklı admitted he had been raising similar concerns for weeks, often being accused of causing a crisis.

“I have merely been trying to point out the mistakes made against the public,” he said.

Regarding the immediate political outlook, Arıklı highlighted the importance of an upcoming visit by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

“He likely has significant insights on the Cyprus issue. After listening to him, the three party leaders will convene to discuss and decide our next steps,” Arıklı stated.

Addressing communication problems within the government, Arıklı noted strained relations with Prime Minister Ünal Üstel. “I am one of the ministers who barely interacts with the Prime Minister, which is a serious communication issue,” he remarked. He also disclosed that similar grievances have been voiced by Deputy Prime Minister and Democrat Party leader Fikri Ataoğlu.

To address these concerns, Arıklı announced plans to visit party branches and engage with local leaders to explain his position and seek their support. “Starting today, I will meet with district heads and conduct persuasion visits to the regions,” he said.

The outcome of these efforts and subsequent decisions by the Party Assembly will determine whether the YDP continues its alliance with the government.