Turkey to the level of those of Europe

The Justice and Development Party’s (AK Party) reform package, which aims to raise democratic and judicial standards in Turkey to the level of those of Europe, has mostly received criticism from the opposition parties, which are supposedly in favor of Turkey’s democratization.

Analysts who examine the parties’ approach to the package point to the risks, especially for some of the parties, in opposing the democratization package and call on them to engage in constructive opposition instead of totally rejecting the legislation.

Yeni Safak’s Fehmi Koru focuses on the attitude of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) against the reform package, noting that the MHP’s opposition to the package was something which he finds very “odd” in consideration of the fact that the MHP has so far backed moves that served the interests of the public. “An appropriate attitude befitting of the MHP would have been taking seriously the constitutional reform package, which aims to rescue the regime from tutelage in a way not dared by any rightist government thus far and calling for the correction of the package’s shortcomings, if there are any.

The only reasonable reaction that would come from the MHP would have been the complaint “Why did we not prepare the package together?” says Koru. In his view, a MHP that turns a blind eye to the package and says it will not lend it any support contradicts the political line the MHP has been pursuing. “How will the MHP explain its own attitude if the reform attempt fails? When the reform package is presented for referendum, what will the MHP tell the public? Let’s go further: Let’s say the MHP gets enough votes to form a single-party government in the upcoming elections. Will it have to bear the sufferings of the AK Party?” asks Koru.

Star’s Eser Karakas also focuses on the MHP’s attitude and discusses how opposing the government’s reform package will cost the party. In his view, if the MHP casts a “no” vote for the reform package, it will have acted in the same way as the Republican People’s Party (CHP), the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and the judiciary. “It is very unclear how the MHP grass roots will react to the MHP joining forces with these bodies,” Karaka? says.

Another Yeni Safak columnist, Yasin Do?an, discusses the importance of the role the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) will play during the voting on the government’s constitutional reform package. He says the BDP’s opposition to the reforms just because they were initiated by the AK Party would be a big handicap for the party. Focusing on the need for the BDP’s support for the package, Do?an says the party might find the package inadequate and demand the inclusion of other articles; however, it would be very wrong for the party to oppose the current democratization move even if it is not the ideal package for itself. “In such a case, the BDP will be a party that opposes change and democratization and will place itself in the same basket as the pro-status quo CHP and the MHP. This will mean self-denial for the BDP and the adoption of a fascist line,” explains Do?an, adding that such an attitude will also call into question the sincerity of the BDP in its calls for democratization and reforms.

Sabah’s Nazli Ilicak voices her views about the attitude of the CHP toward the reform package, whose opposition to the package is known by everyone under the sun. She says the CHP might criticize the package for its shortcomings, such as the absence of an amendment concerning the Higher Education Board (YÖK); however, she says the CHP should work for a more comprehensive package instead of rejecting the government’s package completely. Referring to the government’s inclusion of an article paving the way for the trial of the 1980 coup perpetrators upon the insistence of the CHP, Il?cak says even this does not help win the support of the CHP because the CHP is actually disturbed about the prospects of the judiciary, which has a pro-CHP mentality, losing its privileges.

F Disli Zibak reported for Todays Zaman

Be Sociable, Share!

• 

Category: Headlines, National