se times
26/11/2010
Bloggers debate new opposition leader Kemal Kalicdaroglu's chances of prevailing within his own party and in the June elections.
By Alexander Christie-Miller for Southeast European Times in Ankara -- 26/11/10
Bloggers debate new opposition leader Kemal Kalicdaroglu's chances of prevailing within his own party and in the June elections.
By Alexander Christie-Miller for Southeast European Times in Ankara -- 26/11/10
Over the past month, bloggers in Turkey have been following the power struggle between Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the reform-minded leader of the main parliamentary opposition, and influential conservative opponents within its ranks.
Kilicdaroglu took over the leadership of the Republican People's Party (CHP) in May, following the sex-scandal resignation of conservative Deniz Baykal.
Dubbed "Gandhi" on account of his tranquil manner and resemblance to the Indian leader, Kilicdaroglu raised hopes among disillusioned liberal voters for a reform within the CHP to offer effective opposition to the governing Justice and Development Party (AKP).
Kilicdaroglu has promised modernisation, but sceptics argue he lacks the will and support to defeat the powerful bloc of influential CHP conservatives. At times he hasn't measured up to his savvy government opponents, especially when he failed to register to vote during September's referendum on constitutional reform.
Earlier this month, Kilicdaroglu won a major victory when he abruptly ousted the party's powerful general secretary, the arch-conservative Onder Sav. The press speculates that Kilicdaroglu will hold an extraordinary party convention on December 3rd to demand his party's backing ahead of the June general elections.
Like many Turks, Frederike Geerdink is excited at the prospect of the upcoming electoral contest between the AKP and a rejuvenated CHP, but questions whether "Kemal Kilicdaroglu finally has a firm enough grip on the reins to win the race?"
Geerdink argues CHP has failed to live up to the social-democratic ideals on which it was founded, and accuses Kilicdaroglu of talking about reform while failing to deliver it. "Now that Sav is out, will he really start to turn the CHP back into a social democratic party?" she writes, voicing doubts among the rank and file.
She urges the leader to steer clear of old issues in Turkish politics, such as the Kurdish issue and the headscarf issue, and focus on the economy. "If the CHP could come up with a solid plan to fight (youth) unemployment, I'm sure that would attract many voters. Even more so because Turkey's population is young: the average age is 27, so focusing on youth is a really smart idea."
Finally, she urges Kalicdaroglu to move quickly with his reform agenda. "An election victory becoming a realistic goal would help a great deal to pre-empt potential internal rebellion."
Having spoken to CHP members, columnist Mehmet Ali Birand writes that reform is now definitely on the party agenda. "Brand new attitudes and policies are on their way instead of old names and policies that prevailed for years."
Concerning the upcoming election, he argues the mood within the party is more uncertain. "No one claims the party has set for rocketing sky high. To tell the truth, it is not easy to make the CHP rocket sky high."
Kilicdaroglu took over the leadership of the Republican People's Party (CHP) in May, following the sex-scandal resignation of conservative Deniz Baykal.
Dubbed "Gandhi" on account of his tranquil manner and resemblance to the Indian leader, Kilicdaroglu raised hopes among disillusioned liberal voters for a reform within the CHP to offer effective opposition to the governing Justice and Development Party (AKP).
Kilicdaroglu has promised modernisation, but sceptics argue he lacks the will and support to defeat the powerful bloc of influential CHP conservatives. At times he hasn't measured up to his savvy government opponents, especially when he failed to register to vote during September's referendum on constitutional reform.
Earlier this month, Kilicdaroglu won a major victory when he abruptly ousted the party's powerful general secretary, the arch-conservative Onder Sav. The press speculates that Kilicdaroglu will hold an extraordinary party convention on December 3rd to demand his party's backing ahead of the June general elections.
Like many Turks, Frederike Geerdink is excited at the prospect of the upcoming electoral contest between the AKP and a rejuvenated CHP, but questions whether "Kemal Kilicdaroglu finally has a firm enough grip on the reins to win the race?"
Geerdink argues CHP has failed to live up to the social-democratic ideals on which it was founded, and accuses Kilicdaroglu of talking about reform while failing to deliver it. "Now that Sav is out, will he really start to turn the CHP back into a social democratic party?" she writes, voicing doubts among the rank and file.
She urges the leader to steer clear of old issues in Turkish politics, such as the Kurdish issue and the headscarf issue, and focus on the economy. "If the CHP could come up with a solid plan to fight (youth) unemployment, I'm sure that would attract many voters. Even more so because Turkey's population is young: the average age is 27, so focusing on youth is a really smart idea."
Finally, she urges Kalicdaroglu to move quickly with his reform agenda. "An election victory becoming a realistic goal would help a great deal to pre-empt potential internal rebellion."
Having spoken to CHP members, columnist Mehmet Ali Birand writes that reform is now definitely on the party agenda. "Brand new attitudes and policies are on their way instead of old names and policies that prevailed for years."
Concerning the upcoming election, he argues the mood within the party is more uncertain. "No one claims the party has set for rocketing sky high. To tell the truth, it is not easy to make the CHP rocket sky high."
Unsurprisingly, the comment pages of the pro-AKP Today's Zaman take a dim view of the latest developments within the CHP. Omer Caha argues the latest internal battles have left the party looking divided, and that Kilicdaroglu has a mountain to climb if he is to erase negative perceptions of himself as a leader.
Caha categorically writes off the party's prospects in the upcoming elections. "A leader who has stood behind none of his words until now, and who appears weak, hazy, and divisive of his own party will be unlikely to inspire faith not only in the average citizen, but even in devoted CHP voters."
Aengus Collins, who has long written favourably of a possible CHP revival on the grounds that it would reinvigorate democratic politics, believes Kilicdaroglu's ousting of Sav has revealed an unexpected decisiveness in the leader, who was previously considered as "weak" and unable to uproot AKP.
Collins argues that the latest action bought him a limited credit with the electorate but provides new room for manoeuvre. "There will be much painful rebuilding to be done before the party begins to look and act like a recognisably modern political force. But by forcing his party down the road of reform last week, Kilicdaroglu has done his country a service."
This content was commissioned for SETimes.com.
Caha categorically writes off the party's prospects in the upcoming elections. "A leader who has stood behind none of his words until now, and who appears weak, hazy, and divisive of his own party will be unlikely to inspire faith not only in the average citizen, but even in devoted CHP voters."
Aengus Collins, who has long written favourably of a possible CHP revival on the grounds that it would reinvigorate democratic politics, believes Kilicdaroglu's ousting of Sav has revealed an unexpected decisiveness in the leader, who was previously considered as "weak" and unable to uproot AKP.
Collins argues that the latest action bought him a limited credit with the electorate but provides new room for manoeuvre. "There will be much painful rebuilding to be done before the party begins to look and act like a recognisably modern political force. But by forcing his party down the road of reform last week, Kilicdaroglu has done his country a service."
This content was commissioned for SETimes.com.
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