These lessons may be useful to the young and aspiring politician as well.1. Do not think that the Turkish electorate is aloof to your commitment to parliamentary democracy. Ask Mehmet Ağar and the Democrat Party (DP), they will tell you a whole litany on the wisdom of entering Parliament in a crucial session. As a consequence of their failure to appear in Parliament, I predicted the downfall of Mr. Ağar as early as May (see my piece titled “True or managed democracy?” from May 1, 2007). Once again, the Turkish electorate demonstrated that it is very sensitive to issues pertaining to the consolidation of our democracy. Even the threat of an imminent coup -- as Ağar contended was the case back in May -- would not cut it.
2. Do not lure the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) into daily politics. Do not hide behind the prestige and respect the TSK enjoys. The Republican People’s Party (CHP) has been agitating, manipulating and at times speaking on behalf of the TSK. While Turks admire and respect their military, they do not wish them to become part of daily politics. They prefer them to stay out of that mess and remain above it. The CHP leadership, though busy blaming anyone from imams to second republicans, will have to confront the fact that its crisis politics have utterly failed and that a good part of the electorate has not bought into that trap.
3. Offer a vision. Offer an alternative. Simply running a negative campaign without offering a choice does not fly with the electorate anymore. The opposition heavily criticized the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) for pushing privatization and insisting on European Union entrance. Yet they have been unable to offer alternatives. If not the EU, what? If not integrating further with the global economy, then what? The badly articulated criticism of the AK Party almost suggested Turkey should withdraw and become an insulated island a la North Korea. It is no wonder that the electorate did not buy it.
4. Do not insist on mistakes and people who have proven unpopular with the electorate. In this respect, the limits of our opposition are very apparent. Deniz Baykal’s cadre suggests that there is need for change, not only in party politics but also in people. The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) also has by and large brought in very familiar -- mostly older -- faces. The AK Party is the only party that has a second man and can tolerate it very well. In no other party would the existence of a strong leader such as Abdullah Gül be tolerated. The electorate surely noticed that.
5. Do not disrespect religion. Religion matters for Turks. It is part of their national identity and has more resonance particularly in an increasingly global and religiously charged world. In an age of quick and direct information access, the Turkish electorate has been very much sensitized to issues such as the war in Iraq and the Israel-Palestinian conflict as well as other problems that have religious dimensions. Pretending that religion is insignificant or being perceived as unfriendly toward religion cost some parties dearly.
However the greatest mistake one could commit is -- as Ismet Berkan so eloquently articulated in his column last week -- to pretend as if this election did not take place. That is one lesson everyone should heed.
