BY GUNGOR MENGI
VATAN- As you may remember, the New York Times had hit the headline "There are two different Turkey now" about the protest rally on April 14. Members of press are affected the most by the existence of such a society, which has closed its doors to discussions, let alone compromise. I have experienced such a situation yesterday due to the messages I got from my readers. I have been worried that the opposite ideas have locked their doors firmly to each other.
As no one can thrust the ruling party with an overwhelming majority from its right to elect the president if there is democracy in that country, what should be done is to encourage it to make the right choice.
The most appropriate one out of the three natural candidates of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is Abdullah Gul. Acknowledging that, I wrote in my previous columns that this gives Gul a chance to build himself a new identity based on the values of the Republic. Because using such an opportunity will not only make Gul a good president but also AKP a more trusted party, which is much closer to the centre.
It is evident that masses by no means want a person who has filed a lawsuit against Turkey on grounds of headscarf to European Court of Human Rights to be the president. The opposite poles will continue to conflict. The ones who manage to come together and discuss will find a solution. Presidential candidate Gul has been seeking compromise for two days. I wish Prime Minister Erdogan and Gul on condition that his candidacy had been declared in those days had started to do this several months ago. The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) announced that it won't help for providing 367. The opposition True Path Party (DYP) and Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) didn't respond but they have given the signals that they want to jam the election. Are the opposing politics playing game or do they have a reliable plan that we don't know?
If the public surveys don't deceive us, the efforts to dovetail the presidential election will help AKP inadvertently. Because if the parliament can`t elect the president in one month, the general elections will follow.
What kind of a surprise is the opposition preparing for Prime Minister Erdogan who will market his self-renunciation for becoming the president as a democratic forsake due to the protests of the people?
It is not difficult to transfer deputies. Anyone who follows politics in Turkey may reckon that the missing numbers can easily be compensated by guarantying the deputies that they are going to be elected. Thus, the opposition dovetailing the presidential election will multiply AKP's choices. Erdogan will either close the gap by transferring deputies and make Gul the president or intervene in the dovetail and have the general election to be held earlier by accusing his rivals.
And there is also the possibility for him to say:' I am going to be the president!'
Hence, Turkey's main agenda should be the production of the mentality and understanding which will unite the two different Turkey.