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As TKP shifts to neo-nationalist line, traditional socialists open new party with same name
Political experts express various views on forming a new political party with the same name of another existing party, as the Political Parties Law does not prohibit such an act. In fact, the traditional socialist group has already convened in several major cities to complete the new party bylaws.
Traditional socialists believe that the TKP's name, which dates back to 1920, was taken by the Socialist Government Party (SİP) in 2001. They also state that the current TKP, which is accused of shifting its political line to neo-nationalism, has little to do with the traditional TKP.
The TKP is one of the oldest parties of the socialist tradition in Turkey. The TKP was banned up until 1987, when the TKP formed a new party, the United Communist Party of Turkey (TBKP), by merging with the Workers Party of Turkey (TİP). Nonetheless, traditional TKP supporters were keen on re-establishing the TKP. Thus, they started a magazine called Ürün (product) in 1997 in which they voiced their desire for the establishment of a new TKP.
Hundreds of traditional TKP supporters signed a petition to oppose the current TKP administration for forming a party called the TKP with the people from the SİP. Furthermore these people have organized themselves in a campaign called “From Suphi to Bilen, the Tradition is Alive Initiative” (SBGYG). Suphi refers to Mustafa Suphi, the founder and the first chairman in 1920 of the original TKP. Bilen refers to İsmail Bilen, a former TKP chairman who died in 1983 while his party was banned from Turkish politics.
SBGYG spokesperson Onur Balcı told the press last week that the current TKP members, especially those in the top of the TKP administration, are not from the traditional TKP.
“When someone asks a person who has been a member of the traditional TKP what the current party is, the answer that person will get is SİP, not TKP. Even though they are legally called the TKP, none of the traditional socialists acknowledge them as being the TKP. Many socialists groups still call the current party SİP, which originated from the TİP. The TİP is not a political organization that we have a negative opinion about; however, TİP is no different to us than any other ally organization,” said the SBGYG spokesperson.
Furthermore, Balcı added that the current TKP's ideology and political line are a world away from the TKP's past and the TKP tradition. “In short, we aim to form a new political party with the same name, TKP, as the party name belongs to us. The political line of the current TKP has nothing to the with the traditional TKP ideology,” said Balcı.
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