The Nationalist Movement party (MHP) and Democratic Left Party (DSP) have both become Deniz Baykal targets because they attended the voting session in Parliament for the presidential elections. On a live television program on NTV, CHP leader Baykal criticized his election party partner DSP for not fulfilling its responsibility and blamed the 13 DSP parliamentarians for supporting the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) presidential candidate, Abdullah Gül. Baykal had harsh critiques about the MHP as well. Recalling that MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli came to one of his election campaigns with a rope, Baykal said that back then everyone thought the rope was to execute a terrorist leader but that now, “it’s clear the rope was to pull Abdullah Gül out of the well.” Of course, this verbal attack sparked anger in the MHP, whose General Secretary Cihan Paçacı asserted that the CHP was hoping for help from anti-democratic developments. “The basic responsibility of all political parties is to protect democracy and remove obstacles to democracy. What’s important is that the rope is not tied around democracy’s neck,” Paçacı said. This statement is a harsh criticism as well. But what else can be said for the CHP’s mistake? What’s absurd and incomprehensible is the CHP’s obliviousness to its anti-democratic stance. In reality the CHP could become an alternative to the government, were it to base its principles on democracy. The search for support from everywhere but the public is making the CHP exhausted, agitated and aggressive. Constantly finding problems and creating crisis is blocking Turkey’s path. The CHP is bound for isolation and utter failure if it continues to act as the spokesperson for those that are disturbed with the national will. Yet, Mr. Baykal still insists it won’t enter the general council because it does not want to be held responsible for the threats posed against the laic republic. This saying has truly become boring. What dangers have we experienced in the last four-and-a-half years under the AK Party administration? Is it the acceleration of Turkey’s EU membership bid that poses a threat to the republic? Isn’t the EU membership bid a state policy? Please understand that the leaders of the AK party and the 47 percent of the public who voted for them do not have a problem with laicism, which is sine qua non for democracy in Turkey, and the insurance of public accord and compromise. Mixing religion into politics yields harm, above all to our religion.
Haven’t the horrific killings in the name of religion in Iraq shown us that radical Islamic movements and misunderstanding of our religion incite terrorism in the Muslim-dominated geography?
Isn’t Anatolia the land of tolerance, where the beauties of our religion are manifest?
Some 50 and 60-year-olds, known as the generation of ‘68, whose youths were marked by fights and disputes, want us to give dialogue and compromise a chance. Occasional setbacks should not make us forget the truth and sincere efforts. Some want to avoid tolerance and compromise because it will empower democracy through strict and polarizing policies.
I must note that President Sezer’s reluctance to transfer his post to his successor with a ceremony will only encourage and empower these efforts to polarize the people.
As for the MHP, it is being loyal to democracy and trying to pave the way for a brighter future. This is responsible opposition. This understanding will prevent conflict at the grassroots and reinforce compromise -- the seed of democracy -- among voters. The CHP can no longer manage to fulfill its opposition status. Although it is the official main opposition party, it is standing on a completely different level. It’s certain the MHP has assumed the responsibility of a true opposition party. From now on, the MHP will be known as the tough (authentic) opposition.
