Philenews

The Expendable Figures of Erdogan

Published January 17, 2026, 09:15
The Expendable Figures of Erdogan

The article discusses Rauf Denktas, the long-time leader of the Turkish Cypriots, and his relationship with Turkey and successive Cypriot Presidents. Denktas, known for his nationalist character and support for partition, is considered to have served the interests of Ankara rather than the Turkish Cypriots. The article emphasizes that Denktas, despite his power, had an expiration date and was sidelined by Erdogan in 2004 when he was asked to accept a process leading to a referendum. Erdogan made it clear to him that he would be replaced if he did not comply. This, according to the article, demonstrates that the leaders of the occupation regime are expendable and used to promote Turkish policy. In the occupied territories, the regime is fully dependent on Turkey, which makes the final decisions. Even Denktas, despite his loyalty to Turkey, left his position ingloriously. His memory was recently honored in the occupied territories, with the current leader, Tufan Erhurman, describing him as a symbol of resistance. The article highlights that the choice of background and icons in a recent photoshoot of Maria Karystianou was not targeted, but a result of the selection of the office used. It also states that Maria Karystianou did not publicize the finances of the Tempi association to avoid exposing members who disagreed with her.