From(L-R) Turkey’s Industry and Trade Minister Nihat Ergun, Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek, State Minister Zafer Caglayan, Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Ali Babacan, State Minister Cevdet Yilmaz and Labour Minister Omer Dincer attend a news conference in Ankara October 11, 2010. Babacan said the government would adhere to fiscal discipline and would not overspend … Read more
Actually, the anniversary was yesterday… Adnan Menderes Adnan Menderes (Turkish pronunciation: [ad?nan mende??es]? 1899 ? 17 September 1961) was the first democratically elected political leader in Turkish history. He served as prime minister between 1950?1960. He was one of the founders of the Democratic Party (DP) in 1946, the fourth legal opposition party of Turkey. He … Read more
The rhetoric turns into harsh and somewhat insulting in both sides but No front is certainly more agressive and frustrated. They play the victim side which is a frequent cultural code to turn to. Three CHP women claimed to be beaten by AKP followers yesterday. The No media used their claim but today we learn … Read more
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* The myth of consensus. Some oppose to the changes stating that changes were not made through consensus. As if any constitution was ever made by consensus in Turkey. In fact, a major constitutional change led by a ruling government which was at least elected is a first in Turkish history…
* If AKP was able to cooperate with CHP, MHP and BDP, would there be better changes? I don’t think so. Turkish opposition is far behind AKP in terms of democratic reforms. They are more interested in maintaining status quo through which they have a chance of existence.
* In abstract, all proposed changes point out a more democration situation. So why the opposition?
* Major opposition to changes is about the status of high judiciary and military judiciary system. At present state, they are closed circuit institutions, guardians of Kemalist ideology and a continuous obstacle to EU process. The proposed changes opens up the criteria to become a member of these institutions. They were instituted like this by the military coup d’etat regime so that they would be guard the proposed political and judicial system. Now AKP means to change it and I certainly support that…
* Thus “Independent judiciary” is a big lie. Existing judiciary system was built under military tutelage and is certainly not independent.
Turkey’s Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (C) attends a wreath-laying ceremony with members of the High Military Council at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey, in Ankara August 1, 2010.? Read more » REUTERS/Umit Bektas
Two towns whose populations are more intermixed due to domestic migration, Dörtyol and İnegöl have been targets of psychological operations in order to start communal strifes. This is a pattern that has been observed several times in pre-1980 coup d’etat. In the old days, Alevis vs. Sunnis tension was manipulated. Now comes Turks vs. Kurds tension. Kurdish populations increase in especially Western parts of Anatolia and this brings some social tension. There have been some other attempts to instigate strifes in recent years but İnegöl and Dörtyol cases that happened in the same week seem to be more deliberate. Mobs agitated by Turkish nationalist themes are mobilized after seemingly personal conflicts between persons that happend to be Kurds and Turks.
Unlike the previous cases, government acted swiftly this time and there have been arrrests in İnegöl and security forces patrol the city. Mobs are cowards. When they see security forces at work, they back down. In fact, in most of the cases, security forces are “called to wait” and then come the massacres. This time the government will not let this happen. It seems. Well, apparently these operations aim to destabilize the country and calls for “law and order” regime. Not more democratizations…
In the mean time, Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu who emerged as a symbol of hope for some in opposition continue to embarrass himself with ridicilous allegations.. That’s the best CHP could reach…
In the mean time, judiciary battles continue. There is a warrant to arrest 102 active and retired military officials although it is not executed yet… We will see the drama unravel in the next days…
Asked about the CHP letter to the S&D Group, the CHP?s EU Representative in Brussels Ms. Kader Sevinc replied that ?This was a private correspondence. It would be inappropriate to make it public without the consent of other persons. The letter conveyed the message of the CHP President Mr Kilicdaroglu and the party?s position on […]
Erbakan supporters call for new SP convention from Hurriyet Dailynews The recent Saadet Party convention failed to yield the expected solidarity, the founder of the party has said as his supporters call for a new convention. Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) and main opposition Republican People’s Party leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu shake hands during … Read more
Turkish NGOs defend Ergenekon investigation with report from Hurriyet Dailynews The legitimacy of the Ergenekon case has now been defended on a point-by-point basis by two civil society organizations that published a report Thursday supporting the investigation. complete report can be accessed here. politics roundup: Bulwark polemic in Turkish politics (!) TESEV?s Kurban: Solving Kurdish … Read more
Funny cartoonsfrom Mavi Boncuk on Kılıçdaroğlu’s candidacy. More here.
‘Gandhi’ Kemal’s long march to power in Turkey begins with convention of hope
Hurriyet Daily News
Unlike during former leader Deniz Baykal’s era, the ongoing case of Ergenekon, an alleged gang comprising prominent figures accused of planning to topple
more photos here.
After Baykal’s resignation, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who got a nationwide fame during his candidacy for Istanbul municipality elections, emerged as the most possible CHP leaders. It seems that Mr. Baykal was hoping for a comeback but after yesterday’s developments within CHP circles, Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu, he is gone for good. Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu proved himself a capable polemicist … Read more
Constitutional Court will again decide…as CHP, main opposition party, again applied the Court for the rejection of reforms… ****************** Is CHP burying the hatchet with Gülen movement? Today’s Zaman Baykal and his party, joining with the opponents of Ergenekon, a shadowy crime network that has alleged links within the state and is suspected of plotting … Read more
