BY MAHIR KAYNAK
STAR- The political actors might change, but this always doesn't mean that there will be changes in politics. But these changes are precursors to policies to be implemented by a party or government. There's no ideological difference between the Justice and Development (AK) Party and the Felicity Party (SP). Supporters of these parties are similar to each other in every way, but the difference between the parties is bigger than people think. There were great differences between the Motherland Party (ANAP, now ANAVATAN) led by Turgut Ozal and the same party later led by Mesut Yilmaz. After Ozal's presidency, Yilmaz started to hold contacts to start a new movement.
There are many examples of political movements considered similar to each other or even the same actually conflicting with each other. So what's the difference between the parties that we consider similar or the same? We could look backwards and explore the conflict between Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and Turkey's second President Ismet Inonu and look for the roots of today's separations.
We'll see important changes in politics. This might be in the form of the emergence of new formations, new leaders, or changes to the government or ruling party. First the place of the difference should be determined and the position of each political movement should be defined. Political differences in a country are based on that country's location in the world and its alliances. The changes we experience in the days and weeks to come will determine the place of each political movement.
A change of leader isn't expected at the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), but some people say that its staff will be revamped. The CHP can't be defined as close to the European Union or pro-Eurasia. The CHP is expected to make openings in its ideological plan and stay close to a multicultural conception of the world which accepts the existence of different ethnic groups. It's not expected to build its policies on secularism, but to follow a nationalist line in the economy.
The opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) might continue to act as a reactionary party and maintain its existence by representing negative resentments. The change expected in the government will also represent the new face of the ruling AK Party. This new face is expected to be less liberal, become economically nationalist, and centrist in terms of ideology. The SP has always had an anti-US stance. It's not known if the change in leadership has changed this or not, but former SP leader Necmettin Erbakan is at the forefront now and so there might be hesitation on this issue.
Consequently, the changes and restructuring in politics will be determined not in line with ideological criteria, but the place to be taken by each political movement in the new restructuring in the world. US President Barack Obama's recent visit to Turkey and the messages he gave show that our country will have an important place in this new restructuring. A great distance has been covered in the domestic political struggle, and our position is now more-or-less determined."