The AK Party was identified with three people in the past: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Abdullah Gül and Bülent Arınç. These three politicians will have special places in future treatises on the country's democratic progress because of their specific contributions.
After Gül was appointed as the president, Arınç did not want to serve as the parliament speaker in the new term and told this to the government. Of course, he did not distance himself from the prime minister. Still, Erdoğan felt lonely. The results of the municipal elections of March 29 helped both Erdoğan and the AK Party management realize the importance of Arınç for the party.
I know that there are people or groups who are uneasy even with the presence of Arınç. His beliefs, his ideas, his unswerving stance and his influence on the party bother them. However, for the AK Party, Arınç has a special place.
He is the conscience of the AK Party. While he may have occasional slips of the tongue and feel urged to show his reactions to injustice, he is one of the rare politicians who can boldly tell the truth. When he is criticized, he is criticized for believing in what he says. He makes statements without premeditation or ulterior motives or calculations.
He was the one who spoke boldly about the election results. The interview he gave to Mehmet Günden of the Yeni Şafak newspaper (April 6-7, 2009) can shed light on the future course of politics. Let me give several examples:
"Our style was wrong. Some of our statements that hurt other parties have helped them to converge toward each other. 'The AK Party claims that it is the only party that exists and turns a blind eye to us all,' they may have said. Our relations with the opposition should have been more proper. We must rethink some things, and we must read Turkey's conditions well. We must review our actions [concerning the Southeast]. Our aggressive and harsh words may have provoked voters.
"I don't think the row with the media has helped the AK Party or the prime minister in the least. The Doğan Group has started to play the role of the victim, saying the government is trying to destroy them. We must revise our relations with the press. …
"There are three things that I fear about the AK Party: post and positions, money and unethical relations. ... The people who are involved in such relations should be removed from important positions. Even doubts about such relations should not be allowed to take root. ... When we established the party in 2001, honesty was a value sought by the entire country. So our attitude has become acceptable. [Former President Süleyman] Demirel has a famous family photo, and we had said, ‘Our family photo should be different.' This principle should still be observed. In the last elections, some issues concerning corruption may have created some resentment."
The observations and assessments that Mr. Arınç has been making -- both as an insider and an outsider -- over the last two years must be given special consideration. His self-criticism, too, is very important. Arınç will be acting as a transformed politician in the coming days. It will be beneficial for the country if the AK Party and the government continue to employ such wise men without pretension.
The AK Party has not returned to its National Vision (Milli Görüş) ideology. This ideology belongs to the Felicity Party (SP). This party is needed in politics as it can criticize the AK Party.
Arınç is important also for keeping the AK Party intact. In this country, there is a common practice to divide and rule the central right that is followed by bureaucratic guardianship. It should noted that right-wing parties established after military coups are always headed by retired generals. The squads trying to divide these parties are always ruled by the military bureaucracy.
In all aspects, the assignment of Arınç as a Cabinet member is a proper move for the future.
