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Small parties seek alliances to exceed election threshold
As Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu heads the CHP after years of Deniz Baykal’s leadership, the left is concerned about a slip in its base support. Since Kılıçdaroğlu was chosen as the leader of the party, there has been an influx of support for the CHP from the DSP, the Equality and Democracy Party (EDP), the İP and Mustafa Sarıgül’s Turkey Movement for Change (TDH), which has yet to become a political party with legal standing. But the number of votes that these small parties are expected to attract is no more than 3 percent.
As Rahşan Ecevit, wife of former DSP leader and Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit, left the DSP to join the ranks of the CHP, her motivations have been questioned since she had not supported Kılıçdaroğlu and tried to form an alternative to the DSP for years in the past. Now Rahşan Ecevit is part of a party that has members who are allegedly behind the Ergenekon organization, which even tried to kill Bülent Ecevit.
Recently, a group from the DSP went to Silivri Prison to visit some Ergenekon suspects despite opposition from DSP leader Masum Türker. Commentators say the DSP is not so clear in its vision.
Türker confirmed to Sunday’s Zaman that they have had suggestions concerning cooperation from two parties and said they are open to any party that wants to enter the elections under the DSP umbrella. But he added that they would prefer cooperation with the TDH and the EDP.
Türker said the CHP under Kılıçdaroğlu would increase its votes but does not think that support would be as much as 30 percent. As he did not want to elaborate on the affairs of the CHP, Türker just said it has become a party of contradictions with its latest transfers.
“The CHP cannot stand this. Some people whose ideas contradict each other have been brought together by a good public relations campaign. The CHP is trying not to show its contradictions right now, but this won’t last for long,” he said. Türker also stated that their research showed that the CHP wouldn’t be able to be an alternative to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party).
“You have to have votes from the AK Party’s base if you are going to be an alternative to it. Our research shows that the CHP is not getting the support of the AK Party voters. The CHP received votes mostly from the DP [Democratic Party], ANAP [Motherland Party] and the MHP [Nationalist Movement Party],” he said.
As parties of the left are engaged in negotiations for the upcoming elections, Felicity Party (SP) leader Numan Kurtulmuş from the right is also seeking collaboration. One party that is engaging in dialogue with Kurtulmuş in that regard is the Grand Unity Party (BBP). Other parties that are warm to collaboration with the SP are Abdullatif Şener’s Turkey Party (TP) and Saadettin Tantan’s Yurt Party (YP).
On the other hand, DP members postponed their plans to seek alliances after Sept. 12. Some of them seek to replace Hüsamettin Cindoruk with former Prime Minister Tansu Çiller. But Cindoruk, the DP’s current chairman, is resisting stepping down.
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