CHP leader Deniz Baykal, who even said his party would take the reform package to the Constitutional Court if approved by President Abdullah Gül, urged the president to veto the legislation. Now all eyes have turned to Gül to see whether he will clear the path before a democratic law in Turkey that will bring the country one step closer to its EU goal. Considering the fact that Gül is among the strong supporters of Turkey's EU membership and reforms, analysts say Gül's possible veto of the package would be a major contradiction.Zaman's Mustafa Ünal says the decision Gül will make regarding the piece of legislation in question is a really tough one because there is a law that was prepared in consideration of the EU perspective while there are also objections that point to problems which will emerge due to the legislation's alleged violation of the Constitution and hardships that will emerge due to its implementation. “Will Turkey make no progress, or will it get one step closer to EU membership?” asks Ünal.
Bugün's Erhan Başyurt, who thinks the real reason behind the objection to the legislation is the fact that it clears the way before the generals who engaged in coup plans to be tried in civilian courts, says Turkey backtracking from this landmark reform will deal a great blow to Turkey's efforts at democratization. In this regard, he thinks President Gül will not ignore the will of Parliament, meaning he will approve the legislation.
If, however, Gül vetoes this package, Başyurt says he will face three big contradictions: First, Gül defended the enactment of EU harmony laws and the necessity of laws during his term as foreign minister. If he now vetoes a piece of legislation that was prepared to this end, he will have displayed a great example of inconsistency. Second, if Gül vetoes the legislation due to opposition from the CHP, he will spark a new debate. Both the CHP and the military were against his presidency on the grounds that his wife wears a headscarf. If Gül, who fought against objections when he was rising to the top state post, vetoes this legislation now, public confidence in him will be shaken. Third, if he vetoes the legislation, he will make the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government, in which he served for a long time, enter into a new crisis with state institutions. Since this legislation is indispensable as far as harmonization with EU law is concerned, the AK Party will bring the issue to Parliament again and the same process will recommence once more. More importantly, Gül vetoing a critical piece of legislation will make his relationship with the government more fragile.
Recalling the fact that the military did its best to prevent Gül from assuming the top state post in 2007 as well as the fact that Gül is among the strong defenders of Turkey's EU membership, Star's Mehmet Altan says if Gül ignores these facts and vetoes the legislation, he will contradict his stance. “I think the public is sure that Gül has not changed his mind from when he was elected to the presidency. Moreover, despite efforts to impede this, Turkey has reached a level today which is more promising than yesterday,” says Altan, who urges Gül to approve the reform package.
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