kemal kılıçdaroğlu

Twitter increasingly creates political agenda in Turkey…

by

CHP leader announced his arguments on headscard thru his Twitter account. MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli also joined Twitter. the President has already been active. PM Erdoğan seems to be leading the unfriendly camp against Twitter (and Web culture in general). http://twitter.com/yorumluyorum/status/2736144458457088 Superonline hails ‘the age of fiber’ in Gaziantep from Hurriyet Dailynews Superonline, Turkcell?s profitable … Read more

Columnists discuss Kılıçdaroğlu’s move at CHP

by

I believe K. Kılıçdaroğlu/Gürsel Tekin duo may be the best option for CHP leadership at the moment… FATMA DİŞLİ ZIBAK – Kılıçdaroğlu?s leadership move Republican People?s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who has been a target of criticism for working in the shadow of former CHP Secretary-General Önder Sav, has ended his alliance with Sav. … Read more

Turkey’s political agenda: CHP?s intra-party fights

by

CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu (L) and former party Secretary-General Önder Sav. AA photo CHP jolts with deep crisis as Kılıçdaroğlu, Sav face off ?Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the new party leader, kicked the party’s powerful Secretary-General Önder Sav out of the party administration and announced a new list FATMA DİŞLİ ZIBAK – CHP?s intra-party fights The honeymoon … Read more

Mardin welcomes President in 4 languages…

by

And there were Turkish, Arabic and Syrian in addition to Kurdish banners.. Kurdish language program at university sign of Turkish prosperity, says Gül from Hurriyet Dailynews Different cultures contribute to Turkey?s prosperity, President Abdullah Gül said at a ground-breaking ceremony in the southeastern Anatolian province of Mardin on Monday. FATMA DİŞLİ ZIBAK – Chief prosecutor … Read more

Politics roundup. Kılıçdaroğlu’s promise of more dynamic CHP brings more confusion within the party….

by

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

“Headscarf Ban at Universities Softened but more to do for human rights…

by

It is just like that. In another round of never ending headscarf issue, Higher Education Council (YÖK) sent university presidents a memo to actually lift the ban. But of course it will take more time to legally change the situation… It is only after the miserable defeat of Kemalist forces in referendum, this shameful ban … Read more

Government and pro-Kurdish politicians begin talking… Good news…

by

Turkish leaders meet pro-Kurdish politicians Dialogue has begun to try to solve the deep-rooted problems between Turkey?s Kurdish minority and the government in Ankara. Politicians considered close to Kurdish rebels have met Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek, with further talks set to follow. Both sides however have urged caution over any quick fix. General behind … Read more

President Gül at the UN summit

by

At the U.N., Turkey Asserts Itself in Prominent Ways from NYT > Turkey by By MARK LANDLER The General Assembly often serves as a stage for ambitious countries to project a new image, and Turkey has grabbed that opportunity with vigor. Talks with main Turkish opposition now easier, says German politician from Hurriyet Dailynews The … Read more

49 years ago elected PM Adnan Menderes was hanged by the Junta…

by

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

Mr. K. goes to Brussels…

by

Turkish opposition leader to face first European test from Hurriyet Dailynews by ANKARA – Hürriyet Daily News Main opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu begins a landmark visit to Brussels on Wednesday, a three-day trip that carries symbolic meaning and will give him the opportunity to express his party’s views on a number of issues, from the … Read more

by the way, European Foreign Ministers talked about Turkey recently…

by

EU ministers discuss relationship with Turkey European Union foreign ministers met Saturday to discuss their vexed relationship with Turkey, a nation that is becoming a key player on the global stage even as talks to join the bloc languish. Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu (C) takes part in a family photo with European Union and … Read more

Things get ugly and intense as referendum is close. A roundup. (Towards referendum-8)

by

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

Pamuk says ‘yes’ to reform package… Towards referendum (7)

by

Nobel winner Pamuk says ‘yes’ to reform package Today’s Zaman Turkey’s Nobel-prize winning author Orhan Pamuk has said he will vote ?yes? on the Sept. 12 referendum on a constitutional amendment package. … Turkish opposition leader ‘tweets’ on amnesty debate from Hurriyet Dailynews The leader of the main opposition Republican People?s Party, or CHP, hit … Read more

Erkan states the obvious: YES in the Referendum- Towards Referendum (5)

by

header21[1].jpg

* 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.

Read more

Towards referendum (4): “High-level general called to testify as key military council continues”

by

High-level general called to testify as key military council continues

from Hurriyet Dailynews
The general expected to be named to head Turkey’s land forces has been called along with 18 other military officers to testify as part of the Ergenekon probe.

Turkeys PM Erdogan attends a wreath-laying ...

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

FATMA DİŞLİ ZIBAK – A critical YAŞ meeting

Turkey?s Supreme Military Council (YAŞ), where decisions regarding the promotion and dismissal of Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) personnel are made, convened yesterday.

The trouble with Turkish constitution-making by Aengus Collins

Is Turkish constitutionalism losing its way again? There was an encouraging decade of consensus-building and liberalization between 1995 and 2004, but since the multiple crises of 2007 and 2008 it is hard to avoid the feeling that the country?s capacity for effective constitution-making is on the wane.

Read more