SABAH- Columnist Gungor Mengi writes on the possibility of Parliament's adjourning after deciding on a date for new elections. A summary of his column is as follows:
The current political picture rouses the fear that the Parliament will adjourn for a recess after setting a date for new elections. However, I haven't lost my hopes yet because I don't want to believe that the majority of the Parliament has lost its sense of shame. Blocking the road going to the EU has triggered the recent developments bringing new elections to the agenda and the division in the Democratic Left Party (DSP). All the groups of political parties in the Parliament, excluding the Nationalist Action Party (MHP), said they supported Turkey's EU membership bid. If they sacrifice this project which concerns Turkey's future and declare the session over after setting a date for elections, how will they face the nation during election campaigns? Parliament's agenda is not clear due to sly calculations and childish caprices. The proposal prepared by Motherland Party (ANAP) Chairman Yilmaz's team gathers the EU harmonization steps under a framework. At the moment, ANAP and the Felicity Party (SP) fully support it. There has been news to the effect that even New Turkey (YT) hesitated to support it. The YT denied these reports and stated that it would support the proposal. What happened to make ANAP suspect its motives? During the meeting, YT chairman Ismail Cem had stated that they would like to see if ANAP's coalition partner the DSP - Cem's former party - would sign the proposal. He later said that this was not a condition. Political parties are afraid of any success regarding the issue becoming political capital for ANAP and that the MHP may use the issue as a point against rival political parties. ANAP leader Yilmaz said that the package regarding the EU adaptation laws was not his own property. His explanations sounded realistic, convincing, effective and sincere. He added that if the parties promising to pass the EU harmonization laws unconditionally actually signed the bill he would not use this as a propaganda issue in the coming elections. However, if these political parties promising to support it before the public did not keep their words, he would harp on the issue all through the election campaign. He has the right to do so. It is true that the EU means more freedoms, more security and more wealth for the Turkish people. How will the other parties ask for votes if they play with the future of our children?
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION