TURKEY: Upcoming General Election highlights tension between nationalism and fundamentalism in the country
Record ID:
783195
TURKEY: Upcoming General Election highlights tension between nationalism and fundamentalism in the country
- Title: TURKEY: Upcoming General Election highlights tension between nationalism and fundamentalism in the country
- Date: 11th July 2007
- Summary: (EU) USAK, TURKEY (JULY 10, 2007) (REUTERS) CROWD WAVING AKP FLAGS AT AKP RALLY PRIME MINISTER TAYYIP ERDOGAN THROWING FLOWERS TO PEOPLE
- Embargoed: 26th July 2007 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Turkey
- Country: Turkey
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA1J6R2BJH3CX6B02ULQRZ8TNTY
- Story Text: Tension is rising in Turkey as the governing Justice and Development Party (AKP), which has Islamist roots, is going to face a challenge from the secularist Republican's People Party (CHP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) in the upcoming general election on July 22.
Multi-coloured party flags flutter over nearly all the streets of Istanbul like all the other cities in Turkey. But tension between the parties is rising, with less than two weeks before parliamentary elections.
The governing pro-Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP), which was forced into an early election after an unsuccessful presidential election in parliament, is going to tackle the secular Republican People's Party, which is backed by Turkey's secular elite and army and the rising Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).
Burhan Kuzu, who is a parliament member and a constitutional law professor has been addressing people in the suburbs of Istanbul as a Justice and Development Party (AKP) candidate in Istanbul.
Even though Kuzu is sure his party will form a government without needing a coalition, he also has some suspicions for his party for working in the parliament to pass new bills and other changes from the senate.
"If the MHP (Nationalist Movement Party) does not get into parliament there is no chance of a coalition. But if the MHP gets into parliament after the election battle between the MHP and DTP (Democratic Turkey Party) their battle against us will make the AK Party's (Justice and Development Party) work in parliament really difficult," said Kuzu.
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, who has been travelling all over the country for election rallies, is seeking 400 seats in parliament. Even if his party manages to establish a government alone, they will need more than 367 seats to make constitutional changes or to secure their new candidate for a possible presidential election.
Opinion polls show that the AK Party will win a landslide re-election to parliament on July 22, although it will not get a two-thirds majority to be able to amend the constitution and easily pick a president without the backing of the opposition.
The Republican People's Party (CHP), which is the main opposition in parliament and opened the way for early elections by stopping the presidential election process, will again be the main rival of the AK Party in the elections.
Ilhan Kesici, who is the candidate of CHP from Istanbul, says CHP couls benefit as tension grows between the AK Party because of its pro-Islamist movements and secularists in the country.
"We are tired of having tension. Turkey is a nation state, a unitary state and we have, our republic is a secular republic; nothing more. This is the normalisation in Turkey, and running the country with the institutions in a constitutional framework," said Kesici.
In addition to the CHP, opinion polls show the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), which has an ultra nationalist background, will also manage to secure some seats by putting itself over the 10 percent vote barrier needed for parties to have seats in parliament.
Not only they will have a group in parliament, but a coalition for a government by MHP with CHP is likely against the AK Party, say analysts.
The ruling Islamist-rooted AK Party lost a battle with Turkey's secular elite, which includes opposition parties, army generals and top judges, to get its presidential candidate, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, elected in parliament in May, sparking a political crisis.
Massive rallies had been organised by secular and leftist NGOs, gathering millions of people carrying only Turkish flags, chanting in support of the republic after the presidential elections.
After this call for nationalism, attacks of the PKK members which resulted in the loss of Turkish soldiers in south eastern Turkey also boosted the nationalism in all sections of the country.
Ilter Turkmen, who is a columnist for a nationwide Turkish newspaper says that even two parties with totally different backgrounds like secular and ultra nationalist, can form a coalition under the flag of rising nationalism in Turkey.
"These two parties, although they seem to be different from the point of, the angle of development, historical development, they seem to agree on almost everything at the present time. Because they both displaying the national banner and they both are supporting other radical nationalism. Therefore the AKP will face stronger opposition," says Turkmen.
On the street, people are also keen on the secular and nationalist coalition if they do not support AKP.
"Earlier coalitions were different. At least I want more honest government and I can see a coalition of the MHP and CHP. At least they are against terror and they can say something about those defying us in northern Iraq. They may finish the issue with a (military) operation," said Istanbul resident Ulas Devrim.
"If those who form the coalition work together successfully it may be positive. But if you look at earlier coalition experiences we can't say coalition governments are stable enough," says another resident, Murat Dinc.
General elections will be held in Turkey on July 22. Around 50 million voters around the country will head for ballot boxes to elect 567 members of parliament from 14 political parties, and independent candidates which will be in the parliament for the next five years. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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