Four political parties set up ‘A teams,’ ready for power

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, leader of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), sent word to some top bureaucrats, telling them to resign from their current positions and run for parliament -- and hence join the A team. If the government following the elections is established by the AK Party these people are very likely to be in the new Cabinet. Mehmet Şimşek, a famous Merrill Lynch economist will join the party’s current highfliers, Abdullah Gül, Cemil Çiçek, Binali Yıldırım, Kemal Unakıtan, Ali Babacan, Abdulkadir Aksu, Şaban Dişli and Mehmet Ali Şahin. Şimşek, who was previously nominated to head the Turkish Central Bank, will be one of Erdoğan’s closest colleagues in the field of economy.

Former Undersecretary for the Prime Ministry Ömer Dinçer, former State Waterworks Authority (DSİ) General Director Veysel Eroğlu, Ankara Chamber of Industry (ASO) Chairman Zafer Çağlayan, İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality Secretary-General İdris Güllüce, Professor Edibe Sözen, Professor Reha Çamuroğlu, Türkiye daily Editor in Chief Fuat Bol, Association for Educating and Supporting Women Candidates (KA-DER) Chair-woman Seyhan Ekşioğlu and Hüsamettin Kavi, too, will be included in Erdoğan’s A team. The AK Party leader is also trying to persuade former Republican People’s Party (CHP) Secretary-General Ertuğrul Günay to come on board.

Former Undersecretary for the Education Ministry Necati Birinci, Undersecretary for the Culture and Tourism Ministry Mustafa İsem and Undersecretary for the Health Ministry Necdet Ünüvar, who were frequently criticized by opposition parties, will reportedly run for parliament in order to attain parliamentary immunity from criminal prosecution.

The CHP’s A team

Deniz Baykal, leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) which aims to be in the government either as a single party or as part of a coalition, renewed his A team as he has in each previous pre-election period. Baykal will form his squad from Hamza Kaçar, the former inspector who unearthed a scandal at the Finance Ministry; Mustafa Kemal Kısacıkoğlu, the son-in-law of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer; and Yusuf Kenan Doğan, the chairman of the 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Appeals. Former Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals Sabih Kanadoğlu, who argued that a quorum of 367 was needed for the presidential election, are likely names. Support for Modern Life Association (ÇYDD) Chairman Professor Türkan Saylan, who was a prominent figure at the recent “republican rallies,” Union of Civil Society Organizations (STKB) Chairman Professor Necla Arat, former Foreign Minister Şükrü Sina Gürel and Yücel Aşkın, former rector of 100’üncü Yıl University in Van, will be nominated for parliament. Reportedly Baykal is also trying to persuade former Finance Minister Zekeriya Temizel to sign up for his A team.

The MHP’s A team

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli, who has promised to hold the ruling AK Party accountable for its performance while in power, has been soliciting prominent politicians from the True Path Party (DYP) and the Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) for his A team. Former Interior Minister Meral Akşener; Cihan Paçacı; Professor Zeki Ertugay; former State Minister Bekir Aksoy; former Agriculture Minister Gürcan Dağdaş; Tuğrul Türkeş, son of Alparslan Türkeş; Eurasian Strategic Research Centre (ASAM) Chairman Gündüz Aktan; terrorism expert Ercan Çitlioğlu; Turkish-American Association (TAA) Foreign Affairs Commission Chairman Salim Görür; Hacı Bektaş Dergahı (Dervish Lodge) Chairman Timur Ulusoy; former Prime Ministry Undersecretary Fusun Koroğlu; former Ambassador Deniz Bölükbaşı; and former Culture Minister İstehiman Talay are all on Bahçeli’s hit list.

The DP’s A team

Mehmet Ağar, the chairman of the Democrat Party (DP), born from the union of the Ture Path party (DYP) and the Motherland Party (ANAVATAN), has formed his A team from Mehmet Ali Bayar, Cem Kozlu, Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) Chairman Sinan Aygün, İlhan Kesici, Professor Deniz Ülke Arıboğan, Associate Professor Çağrı Erhan and former Ambassador Nüzhet Kandemir. ANAVATAN leader Erkan Mumcu is expected to add new figures to this list. Ağar invited Turkish Soccer Federation (TFF) Chairman Haluk Ulusoy, former İzmir Mayor Burhan Özfatura and former State Minister Işılay Saygın to the party. Former CHP Gaziantep Mayor Celal Doğan and former Parliamentary Speaker Hikmet Çetin are also likely to be on the DP’s squad. Reportedly Hüsamettin Özkan, who served as deputy prime minister to the late Bülent Ecevit, was invited but declined the invitation. 

Parliament needs to step back from policies of fear and intimidation, says a street vendor from Konya, the city’s newest independent deputy candidate. As election preparations gain speed Turkey-wide, citizens wanting a place on the party lists are vying for spots. Şahin Büyükyıldırım , a 72-year-old street peddler from Konya, announced his candidacy for independent deputy in the July 22 general elections.

Speaking on Kazım Karabekir Street, one of the busiest streets of Konya, Büyükyıldırım started his election campaign by explaining to the groups of people gathered what he planned to do if elected.

Born in Konya, Büyükyıldırım explained he was running so he could bring the voice of Konya citizens and the Turkish nation back to Parliament. Talking to the curious crowd gathered around him, Büyükyıldırım said that the laws implemented by Parliament were brought about to frighten the people and to cause apprehension and incite tumult. He said that with the law the current Parliament established it clearly showed it wasn’t on the side of the people, just as these laws were in the interest of someone other than the people. Pointing out that he was a 72-year-old primary school graduate, Büyükyıldırım said he had worked in many professions during his life and that he has been a street peddler for six years. Noting that his work in street peddling brought him closer to the people, Büyükyıldırım said he now knows his people well enough and that he is ready to run for the position of deputy.

in İstanbul to vote for first time

The Vatican’s İstanbul representative Monsignor Georges Marovitch, 76, is preparing to vote in the July 22 general elections. Marovitch, who was given Turkish citizenship in 2005 at the request of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said: “I’m indebted to Prime Minister Erdoğan. And I’m also very excited for I will vote for the first time.” Marovitch also noted: “We are going through a very critical period for Turkey. I pray to God Almighty for the best to happen for our country.” The official is visibly proud of being a Turkish citizen, along with his elder sister Maria Marovitch, 87, who lives in the Şişli Rest Home. “I hope the officials of the rest home help her vote also,” he said. The Vatican representative has determined which party to vote for; but prefers to keep his choice confidential, “Whatever party will win, I hope it will turn out good for our country and the world.” Mehmet Rıfat Yeğen İstanbul