Ankara's Political Whispers

Ankara is quite dynamic these days. Political parties that are not currently represented in Parliament are frantically trying to find a formula to become the fifth party represented there.
The Felicity Party (SP), Grand Unity Party (BBP), Democrat Party (DP) and Center Party (Merkez) are all excited about the prospect of becoming a player in the lead-up to the election. They have been waiting for this time for years. Turkey has effectively entered the general election period. Intense meetings at hotels and rumors of potential alliances indicate that the coming months will be very eventful. This is not only the case for the opposition. The ruling party is also in a state of commotion. Rumors and stories about the inner politics of the ruling party are heard everywhere. “Three termers” are meeting openly at restaurants in Çukurambar in order to determine a common course of action. They are all concerned about the future and have difficulty determining what awaits them at a time when President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan seems intent on ensuring their retirement. This dynamism is not only limited to these parties but rather senior figures from the 1990s -- mostly from the Motherland Party (ANAP, previously ANAVATAN) and the True Path Party (DYP) -- are also active.
Needless to say, this renewed engagement is no coincidence. Despite intense pressure on the print and electronic media, more and more segments of our society are sensing that some things are going terribly wrong. The impact of the Dec. 17 and 25 graft allegations in 2013 continues to reverberate. The failure to send the four ministers to the Supreme State Council has thoroughly injured the public conscience. The corruption and degeneration of long governments is visible everywhere. Furthermore, tension between Erdoğan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu seems to be simmering below the surface.
Another source of tension stems from the Pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party's (HDP) insistence on going into the election as a party, rather than as independent candidates. The possibility of the HDP failing to meet the 10 percent threshold is causing many to ponder the potential implications. Concerns about Turkey's political unity and civil peace are in the minds of many. News of increasing Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) presence and interference in the Southeast are naturally causing negative reactions in the west. One hears that the PKK is now conducting security checks even in major southeastern cities such as Mardin. The discontent over this state of affairs presents an opportunity for the opposition parties, but the opposition needs to understand that it cannot capitalize on these developments simply by expressing disapproval. Instead, it needs to present the electorate with a credible group of candidates and a clear vision as to where it wants to take the country. They need to give the impression that the state and economy can be entrusted to them. At a time when the media is facing severe repression, the opposition needs to identify imaginative methods to reach out to the electorate.
Some argue that the 2015 general election may be the last election in Turkey. I do not know whether this will be the case, but there are legitimate concerns about ballot box security. As we saw in the local election in Ankara, clean elections may become something of the past. Hence, opposition parties need to prepare and organize properly to defend the ballot box to prevent fraud and improper conduct. In this respect particular responsibility rests with the Republican People's Party (CHP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).
Turkey is approaching yet another critical election. After the general election there will not be another election until March 2019. Therefore, if there is not a correction at the ballot box this time, I am afraid there could be serious domestic implications. If one thinks carefully about this scenario the potential risks are clear. I sincerely hope that the Turkish opposition behaves with this awareness and sense of responsibility in mind.

SUAT KINIKLIOĞLU (Cihan/Today's Zaman)