TV SHOW HOSTS DISCUSS SIGNIFICANCE OF ELECTION RESULTS
NTV television, Istanbul
23 Jul 07
The NTV Television Network in Turkish at 1700 gmt on 23 July airs
the first of its postelection "Difference of Interpretation" shows
in the usual format of a point-counterpoint discussion of selected
current topics by programme hosts Emre Kongar and Mehmet Barlas. This
particular show goes over the alloted time and lasts 50 minutes.
Barlas opens the show by enumerating a number of possible discussion
topics, but Kongar proposes that the two hosts first discuss the
significance of the electoral shares of the three parties that gained
seats in the Assembly.
Kongar begins talking about the "unequal representation" of different
constituencies and Barlas points out that "27 independents were
elected with only 5 per cent of the vote while the Democrat Party [DP]
did not win any seats with about the same percentage." At this point,
the discussion turns to the resignation of DP General Chairman Mehmet
Agar and the status of "the centre right." Barlas notes that he spoke
to former Prime Minister Tansu Ciller earlier and that she told him
that "there is strong pressure from the bottom" for her to step in
but that this "needs to be discussed" by the DP.
Returning to the discussion of unfairness of the election system,
Kongar says that the election of the 27 independents, most of them
affiliated with the Democratic Society Party [DTP], shows that it is
time "to do away with the 10-per-cent electoral threshold" because
it does not serve its purpose of stopping small parties from winning
seats in the Assembly.
Barlas notes that the Justice and Development Party [AKP] won more
votes than the DTP in most southeastern provinces. He says that this
suggests that citizens are not voting along ethnic lines and that the
newly-elected "DTP-backed independents must utilize the parliamentary
system for the development of Turkey."
When Kongar says that he would like to see "a Turkey where all
citizens can exercise their citizenship rights regardless of ethnic
origin" irrespective of "whether we enter the EU or not," Barlas
says that European and Western values can help Turkey "neutralize"
"certain ills" that come from "being part of the Middle East."
Kongar says that he objects to the "chaos" created in Turkey’s criminal
laws because of the rush to adapt to EU laws and complains that the EU
has been introducing new preconditions on Cyprus and even insisting
on "the recognition of the Armenian genocide." Barlas responds that
the election results suggest that Turkey’s "national will approves
the continuation of the EU process." Kongar disagrees and says that
different voters vote for various parties for different reasons and
that it cannot be concluded from the election result that it was a
vote in favour of the EU. He adds that "the EU process was discussed
only in the abstract" during the election campaign and that "in any
event the Republican People’s Party [CHP] did not say that ‘we will
not enter’" the EU.
Barlas says that "we cannot discuss on 23 July what was said before
22 July." He adds: "The people said: I support you. Carry on what you
are doing. I am satisfied with the services you have provided." Barlas
insists that the people told the opposition: "Despite the backing you
have received from republic rallies, Constitutional Court rulings,
and presidential vetoes, you are at odds with the general perspective
of Turkish society. We are not voting for you."
Kongar objects vehemently that "the AKP’s victory cannot prevent
anyone from criticizing its mistakes over the past four and a half
years." He argues that he is "speaking on behalf of the 53 per cent
of the people who did not vote for the AKP." Barlas insists that
Kongar represents "the 14 per cent of the Nationalist Action Party
[MHP]." Kongar calls that remark "shameful" and "inappropriate" and
accuses Barlas of "demagoguery." He insists that "even if a party
wins 90 per cent of the vote," the remaining 10 per cent has a right
to criticize that party. Barlas responds that, in a democracy, "the
victory of the majority does not mean the trampling of the rights of
the minority." He adds that, if a party has the majority of seats in
parliament it must be able to elect whomever it wants even if small
"unelected" groups object. The two hosts that exchange heated remarks
over "demagoguery."
Commenting on the reasons for the MHP’s success in winning 14 per
cent of the vote, Kongar says that some of the MHP’s support came from
voters who "would vote for the CHP but did not because of its leader"
and that it succeeded partly because of its stance on "separatism." He
adds that Turkey’s "regional" ethnic problem has become a "central
problem" because most Kurds live in big cities today. He says that he
sees the presence of the DTP-backed independents and the MHP in the
Assembly as an "opportunity for Turkey." Barlas agrees and notes that
"Turkey’s Kurdish reality is also a regional reality." He expresses
the hope that all members of the National Assembly realize this and see
the current situation as an opportunity to solve a regional problem.
Changing the subject, Barlas says that he does not expect any
"dissidence" against CHP General Chairman Deniz Baykal within his
party because of the way Baykal "purged" his opponents within the
party in the past. He adds that, "as of now, Baykal has no intention of
stepping down" but that "it is certain that social democrats outside
the CHP will start an opposition movement against Baykal."
Kongar notes that the CHP was not able to increase its share of the
vote over 2002 despite its merger with the Democratic Left Party and
the support of many social democratic groups and that the election
results constitute a "major failure for the CHP." He attributes the
results to the failure of the CHP to "open up to the people" while the
AKP has been able "to mix with society at every level." He says that
"the CHP is a closed party" and that its leader has "no warmth."
Barlas says that the CHP "refuses to examine its mistakes" and
continues to blame "exploitation of religion" and "lack of reason"
for its failures. He adds that "this suggests that there is no hope
for this party." He criticizes Baykal for not calling Prime Minister
Erdogan to congratulate him on his victory.
Kongar also criticizes the CHP leadership and says that "the
introvertedness of the party prevents it from improving itself." He
says that the leadership "wasted" the enthusiasm created for it by the
"republic rallies."
Turning to the reasons of the AKP’s success, Kongar says that one
contributing factor was the "abundance of hot money across the
world." He adds that all foreign leaders, including Greek Cypriot
leaders and Kurdish leaders in northern Iraq, supported the AKP. He
says that the media and business circles also supported the AKP.
Barlas says that Turkey as well as "Turkey’s friends abroad" are
relieved with the election result because of expectations that
"stability will continue." He says that "had the election been
held in November as scheduled, the AKP would not win 47 per cent
of the vote." He suggests that the Constitutional Court ruling on
the presidential election and other factors helped the AKP win by a
large margin.
The two hosts end the programme saying that they will continue this
discussion the next day.