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DIVIDED PARTIES SEEK ALLIANCES TO PASS THRESHOLD
Ercan Yavuz Ankara
Today's Zaman, Turkey
March 14 2007
Rising 'nationalism' and 'neo-nationalism' in Turkey have made some
small political parties on the left and right popular among the
mainstream parties as they search for alliances to increase their
strength before the Nov. 4 general elections.
Two political parties have emerged as the most wanted in these
searches: The right-wing nationalist Grand Unity Party (BBP), led by
Muhsin Yazýcýoðlu, is favored by the political parties of the right;
Doðu Perincek and his marginal left-wing Workers' Party (ÝP) have
been favored by the parties of the left. Perincek's public denial of
Armenian genocide claims in Switzerland and a conviction that followed
it by the Swiss court have boosted his political credentials.
After many well-known figures left the Nationalist Movement Party
(MHP) to join the BBP, Yazýcýoðlu started to receive alliance bids
from all parties in the right wing. The Felicity Party (SP) was the
first to offer an alliance to the BBP, into which former MHP ministers
Abdulhaluk Cay, Sadi Somuncuoðlu and Enis Oksuz were transferred.
The SP serves as a spot for deputies known to be advocates of the
"national vision" who left the ruling Justice and Development Party
(AK Party). It aims at passing the 10 percent election threshold by
establishing an alliance with the BBP.
The BBP wanted to be given a 40-deputy quota in return for entering
the elections under the umbrella of the SP, thereby blocking the talks.
The Motherland Party (ANAVATAN, formerly ANAP), too, offered
cooperation with the BBP, which had attained parliamentary
representation by concluding a deal with the then-ANAP leader Mesut
Yýlmaz in the elections of 1995. The low-level talks are still
under way.
The AK Party, too, is giving serious thought to forming an election
alliance with the BBP. Intending to take its share from rising
nationalist sentiments and secure a clear victory against the MHP, the
AK Party has plans to start talks with the BBP. Since Nevzat Pakdil,
brother-in-law of Yazýcýoðlu, is an eminent figure in AK Party,
this is considered a facilitating factor for this alliance.
After long talks with the MHP for cooperation, the BBP has now acquired
the self-confidence to invite the MHP to enter elections under the
umbrella of the MHP.
Having seen in the recent polls that his party has electoral support
near the 10-percent election threshold, True Path Party (DYP) Leader
Mehmet Aðar gave a green light to establishing contacts with the BBP
at the level of deputy chairman.
The initiative, led by former Prime Minister Mesut Yýlmaz and former
President Suleyman Demirel for securing a union in the center right,
too, gives priority to the BBP. Arguing that the BBP cannot pass the
10-percent election threshold despite the impetus given by rising
nationalist sentiments, they maintain that the BBP will be of a
great importance within an alliance, not by itself. Yýlmaz and his
colleagues will bring a serious offer to Yazýcýoðlu following the
presidential elections before mid year.
Perincek: most wanted of the left
The search for an alliance in the left wing has made Perincek's ÝP
highly sought after. Known by its harsh opposition to the government's
EU policies and the relations with the US, the ÝP has even lured in
some former MHP and DSP deputies. Those who joined the party include
Mevlut Gungor Erdinc, the first senator from the MHP, former MHP
Yozgat Deputy Servet Bora and former Democratic Left Party (DSP)
Edirne Deputy Ahmet Erturk.
Perincek's fight against the Armenian genocide claims has contributed
to the increasing popularity of the ÝP. Standing trial for his
statement, "Armenian genocide claims are imperialist lies," and
sentenced for it in Switzerland, Perincek had a welcome party that
he did not expect to see upon his return to Turkey.
The "neo-nationalist stance" adopted by the party despite immense
contradictions with its past has been a successful strategy in terms
of the number of alliance offers the party has received.
The myriad of small parties in the left wing can secure between 1 and 5
percent of the public vote. Some alliance combinations, however, might
bring safe passage of the 10-percent country threshold, experts say. It
is one of these combinations that has caused the ÝP's ascendancy.
The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), which has a
reputation of being center left but has become more nationalistic over
the years, has been exerting great efforts to woo the ÝP in order to
prevent the AK Party from taking power a second time and to ensure
CHP becomes the single ruling party.
However, as the CHP's offer meant the ÝP's accession to the CHP, it was
not even considered worthy of consideration by the ÝP. In contrast, the
ÝP's talks with the DSP are well under way. An alliance between the DSP
and the ÝP might bring higher-than-expected votes, it is speculated.
The ÝP is also holding talks with the Social Democratic People's
Party (SHP), led by Murat Karayalcýn; the Democracy for Freedom Party
(ODP); the Independent Republican Party (BCP), led by Mumtaz Soysal;
the People's Ascent Party (HYP), led by Yaþar Nuri Ozturk; and the
Yurt Party (YP), led by Sadettin Tantan.
--Boundary_(ID_k6E9Sd8/G8j/tBvLvawidQ)--
Ercan Yavuz Ankara
Today's Zaman, Turkey
March 14 2007
Rising 'nationalism' and 'neo-nationalism' in Turkey have made some
small political parties on the left and right popular among the
mainstream parties as they search for alliances to increase their
strength before the Nov. 4 general elections.
Two political parties have emerged as the most wanted in these
searches: The right-wing nationalist Grand Unity Party (BBP), led by
Muhsin Yazýcýoðlu, is favored by the political parties of the right;
Doðu Perincek and his marginal left-wing Workers' Party (ÝP) have
been favored by the parties of the left. Perincek's public denial of
Armenian genocide claims in Switzerland and a conviction that followed
it by the Swiss court have boosted his political credentials.
After many well-known figures left the Nationalist Movement Party
(MHP) to join the BBP, Yazýcýoðlu started to receive alliance bids
from all parties in the right wing. The Felicity Party (SP) was the
first to offer an alliance to the BBP, into which former MHP ministers
Abdulhaluk Cay, Sadi Somuncuoðlu and Enis Oksuz were transferred.
The SP serves as a spot for deputies known to be advocates of the
"national vision" who left the ruling Justice and Development Party
(AK Party). It aims at passing the 10 percent election threshold by
establishing an alliance with the BBP.
The BBP wanted to be given a 40-deputy quota in return for entering
the elections under the umbrella of the SP, thereby blocking the talks.
The Motherland Party (ANAVATAN, formerly ANAP), too, offered
cooperation with the BBP, which had attained parliamentary
representation by concluding a deal with the then-ANAP leader Mesut
Yýlmaz in the elections of 1995. The low-level talks are still
under way.
The AK Party, too, is giving serious thought to forming an election
alliance with the BBP. Intending to take its share from rising
nationalist sentiments and secure a clear victory against the MHP, the
AK Party has plans to start talks with the BBP. Since Nevzat Pakdil,
brother-in-law of Yazýcýoðlu, is an eminent figure in AK Party,
this is considered a facilitating factor for this alliance.
After long talks with the MHP for cooperation, the BBP has now acquired
the self-confidence to invite the MHP to enter elections under the
umbrella of the MHP.
Having seen in the recent polls that his party has electoral support
near the 10-percent election threshold, True Path Party (DYP) Leader
Mehmet Aðar gave a green light to establishing contacts with the BBP
at the level of deputy chairman.
The initiative, led by former Prime Minister Mesut Yýlmaz and former
President Suleyman Demirel for securing a union in the center right,
too, gives priority to the BBP. Arguing that the BBP cannot pass the
10-percent election threshold despite the impetus given by rising
nationalist sentiments, they maintain that the BBP will be of a
great importance within an alliance, not by itself. Yýlmaz and his
colleagues will bring a serious offer to Yazýcýoðlu following the
presidential elections before mid year.
Perincek: most wanted of the left
The search for an alliance in the left wing has made Perincek's ÝP
highly sought after. Known by its harsh opposition to the government's
EU policies and the relations with the US, the ÝP has even lured in
some former MHP and DSP deputies. Those who joined the party include
Mevlut Gungor Erdinc, the first senator from the MHP, former MHP
Yozgat Deputy Servet Bora and former Democratic Left Party (DSP)
Edirne Deputy Ahmet Erturk.
Perincek's fight against the Armenian genocide claims has contributed
to the increasing popularity of the ÝP. Standing trial for his
statement, "Armenian genocide claims are imperialist lies," and
sentenced for it in Switzerland, Perincek had a welcome party that
he did not expect to see upon his return to Turkey.
The "neo-nationalist stance" adopted by the party despite immense
contradictions with its past has been a successful strategy in terms
of the number of alliance offers the party has received.
The myriad of small parties in the left wing can secure between 1 and 5
percent of the public vote. Some alliance combinations, however, might
bring safe passage of the 10-percent country threshold, experts say. It
is one of these combinations that has caused the ÝP's ascendancy.
The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), which has a
reputation of being center left but has become more nationalistic over
the years, has been exerting great efforts to woo the ÝP in order to
prevent the AK Party from taking power a second time and to ensure
CHP becomes the single ruling party.
However, as the CHP's offer meant the ÝP's accession to the CHP, it was
not even considered worthy of consideration by the ÝP. In contrast, the
ÝP's talks with the DSP are well under way. An alliance between the DSP
and the ÝP might bring higher-than-expected votes, it is speculated.
The ÝP is also holding talks with the Social Democratic People's
Party (SHP), led by Murat Karayalcýn; the Democracy for Freedom Party
(ODP); the Independent Republican Party (BCP), led by Mumtaz Soysal;
the People's Ascent Party (HYP), led by Yaþar Nuri Ozturk; and the
Yurt Party (YP), led by Sadettin Tantan.
--Boundary_(ID_k6E9Sd8/G8j/tBvLvawidQ)--