General strike and protests in northern Cyprus over salary adjustment legislation

On Monday, 62 trade unions and organizations in the occupied territories of Cyprus launched a general strike to protest a government bill regarding the cost of living allowance (ATA). The proposed legislation aims to suspend further salary adjustments until January 2027, following a payment scheduled for the end of March 2026. During the protests outside the assembly building, demonstrators broke through police lines and entered the courtyard, demanding the government's resignation. Security forces responded with tear gas, water cannons, batons, and shields to disperse the crowd, resulting in injuries to protesters and journalists, as well as several arrests. Opposition MPs from the CTP party were also affected by the police intervention. An 11-member crisis management team held meetings with government officials and union representatives, but negotiations concluded without a resolution. Union leaders have stated that the strike will continue indefinitely until the legislation is withdrawn.