CUMHURIYET- Columnist Mustafa Balbay comments on the situation of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Republican People’s Party (CHP). A summary of his column is as follows:
After the first dust clouds settled in the days following this Sunday’s elections, small clues have begun to emerge about how the upcoming period will be shaped.
1. The Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader is looking like one of those fabrics that changes its color depending on the light. He looks different depending on the side you’re looking from. It’s unnecessary to go into details right now but Erdogan’s comments, which to the public look extremely moderate and compromising, are understood very well at his party’s base.
2. Erdogan’s comments on the European Union seems aimed at people who are looking for Turkey’s future in this region but who don’t care for Erdogan. Steps taken in this direction won’t hurt Turkey. However, it seems that Erdogan is making more effort than is really necessary in order to gain acceptance in the West. Time will tell if these efforts are directed at Turkey’s EU membership, or if they are actually meant to make the EU accept Erdogan and his party.
3. We can evaluate his start concerning the Cyprus issue in light of the above interpretation. He tried to solve the Cyprus problem by establishing contact with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis without receiving information from the government organs, without knowing the background of developments there, and even before the elections. What sort of diplomacy is this?
4. If the AKP places more importance on filling government offices with its members than serving the nation, then things will change. If the AKP spoils its poised posture, the AKP and the entire country will suffer.
5. The AKP’s only opposition in Parliament will be the Republican People’s Party (CHP). CHP leader Deniz Baykal’s line was, ‘We shouldn’t be on the side creating tension.’ Baykal is aware of the tension that the AKP’s power could bring to the agenda. ‘There are universities and the judiciary, and we can guess what they can do there,’ he said. ‘But it wouldn’t suit us to say that you will do this-and-that. In such a situation, we can oppose.’ Such an approach can be considered natural at this stage. However, if their relations go further and close cooperation with the AKP continues, the following question comes to one’s mind: ‘Is this government really an AKP-CHP coalition?’
6. The last sentence of the above item is a very critical threshold. While trying not to be the side which creates tension, the CHP should yet not be the side giving carte blanche to the AKP. The CHP should keep in mind why many people voted for it. In this respect, the public gave the government a certain measure of ‘power credit’ for a period of time, and meanwhile it gave the CHP an ‘opposition credit.’ Even if Erdogan cannot become prime minister, he will be accepted as the ‘leader of the power.’ If Baykal draws up a good strategy, he will have the title of the ‘opposition leader’ and he will thus lay the groundwork for the next elections.
7. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will be one of the closest followers of the AKP’s operations. We can evaluate this as a separate insurance policy. Sezer’s greatest independence is that he doesn’t carry a heavy political burden. Sezer welcomed the leaders of power and opposition yesterday and by treating Erdogan and Baykal equally, he gave a unique message!
8. The AKP has a very serious responsibility now. They have enjoyed praise both at home and abroad since the election. Instead of issuing praise, we prefer to voice our concerns and point out what is lacking.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION