MILLIYET- Columnist Fikret Bila comments on Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit’s call for leftist unity and the reply given by Independent Republic Party (BCP) leader Mumtaz Soysal. A summary of his column is as follows:
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has made the expected call. Ecevit yesterday called upon everybody who espouses national left-democratic left ideology and culture to unite under the banner of the Democratic Left Party (DSP). When Ecevit was making this call, he didn’t neglect to emphasize the difference between, on the one hand, his party and the People’s Republican Party (CHP) and, on the other, the New Turkey Party (YTP). We asked Ecevit for whom the call was intended. He replied like so:
- My call was not directed to a certain institution or institutions. I made the call to everybody who espouses a national leftist and democratic left ideology. Some intellectuals who consider themselves leftist cannot bring themselves to reconcile leftist ideology with nationalism. They think that nationalism and the left contradict each other. However, this is not so. The left in Europe, which they are trying to imitate, is nationalist as well. Being a leftist requires protecting the integrity and welfare of the nation and the country. That’s why I called on those who think this way to join the DSP.
When Ecevit emphasized the concept of the ‘national left,’ Independent Republic Party (BCP) leader Mumtaz Soysal and Republican Democracy Party (CDP) leader Yekta Gungor Ozdan initially came to mind.
When we reached Mr. Soysal, he was at an international meeting in Switzerland where the Cyprus issue was being discussed. During our phone conversation, Mr. Soysal warmly welcomed Mr. Ecevit’s call and added, ‘Mr. Ecevit’s definition of the national left shares some overlap with ours. This is one of the basic approaches on which the BCP is based. I also agree with Mr. Ecevit in terms of his opinion about social democrats in Turkey. Anyway, at one time I participated in the DSP and worked for it due to this overlap. I subsequently left the DSP over disagreement with some of its policies. However, our understanding of the left still overlaps. The call made by Mr. Ecevit and the framework he drew suits us.’ We asked Mr. Soysal if he would accept Mr. Ecevit’s call and join the DSP. His answer was as follows:
- Even though we don’t have the right to participate in the November elections, we do have a party. Although as a leader I have the authority to deal with such things, I must evaluate this situation with my colleagues. - What sort of a method will you choose to answer Mr. Ecevit’s call? I asked. - Of course, our approach wouldn’t be in the form of bargaining. We will discuss the issue. The method isn’t a problem. It’s not important for me whether I become a deputy or not. Our power comes from our ideology. We will speak with Mr. Ecevit in terms of this understanding. - Do you expect a separate invitation from Mr. Ecevit? Right now I’m in the middle of this meeting on the Cyprus issue, but I’ll return to Turkey for the weekend. Of course if Mr. Ecevit calls me, I will go and speak to him.
Thus, the first positive response to Mr. Ecevit came from Mr. Soysal. The CDP is evaluating Mr. Ecevit’s call as well. They are in contact with the BCP concerning this issue. Ecevit’s call might cause a gathering under the common denominator of the ‘national left’.”
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION