Suruç: The Proof That There Won't Be Any Coalition

I watched the TV program titled "Büyük Komplolar" (Big Conspiracies) which aired on the pro-government Kanal A on Sunday, July 26. The program claimed that the US, which is described as the "deep structure" or the "mastermind," is responsible for all sorts of negative developments in the history of Turkey.
The pro-government media outlets are targeting the West, particularly the US, as the source of all unfavorable developments. The Turkish left's traditional malaise of "putting the blame on the West even for the hot weather in Turkey" now seems to affect the conservative Justice and Development Party (AK Party). Many Turkish intellectuals market themselves as experts on the Greater Middle East project, even though they know nothing about even Turkey's southern provinces or Eastern Mediterranean region, let alone the Middle East. Where will the efforts to provoke anti-Western and anti-US sentiments take Turkey? Which organizations will emerge stronger in the end?
Ankara is going through a hot summer from a political perspective. Politicians, journalists and intelligence officers haven't left Ankara on vacation. Hotel lobbies as well as cafes in Kızılay, Çukurambar, Yıldız and Oran in Ankara are teeming with politicians who are involved in bargaining for a coalition. Everyone knew coalition talks would increase the power gap in Ankara, which in turn would invite terror attacks. Indeed, no void is allowed in politics. It was estimated that terror would rear its ugly head in Gaziantep, Hatay, Adana or places near them. The bomb attack in the southeastern district of Suruç in Şanlıurfa province was nothing but the public proclamation that the coalition talks would eventually fail.
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu needs to be a member of a coalition government. The expectations of being in power have postponed the intra-party clashes, but the CHP's hopes of being a coalition member will remain a dream.
The tension inside the AK Party is building up. The party's “chief” (i.e., President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan) does not favor a coalition. He is obsessed with putting the AK Party in power in a single-party government with a snap election. Around 70 former AK Party deputies who were banned by their party from running for Parliament for a fourth period favor an early election. For the fulfillment of Erdoğan's dreams, the AK Party has to be able to lure voters who voted for the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). Conservative Kurds who live in Western provinces and who voted for the HDP in the June 7 election as well as the White Turks and Turkish leftists who opted to support the HDP have to be discouraged from backing the HDP. And the HDP has to be forced into becoming more like the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). With the recently launched wave of counter-terrorism operations, the AK Party intends to earn the hearts of Turkish nationalists.
Interim Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has to form a coalition government if he wants to extend his political career. The Prophet David was a successful king. He conquered the citadel of Jerusalem, Jordan and Syria. He successfully ruled the land for 36 years. On his deathbed, he summoned his son, the Prophet Solomon. "I leave behind a state treasury full of riches, a vast kingdom and successful and gallant commanders. Son, if you want to be successful, execute all of my commanders as soon as I die," he said. Solomon was taken aback. "Why do you want me to get rid of the gallant and loyal commanders, father?" he asked. David replied: "Son, they are my commanders. They will never become your commanders. If you want to be successful, you have to find your own commanders." If Davutoğlu fails to establish a coalition government and create his own loyal supporters in the AK Party, he will inevitably be purged. However, Erdoğan still controls the AK Party's local organizations. He maintains his playmaker role. Davutoğlu will not be eager to clash with Erdoğan. Some scenarios suggest that in the run up to a snap election, Davutoğlu's clout may be restricted by separating the party chairmanship from the Prime Ministry. With a short-term coalition with the MHP, a new prime minister may step in to completely purge Davutoğlu. Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and deputies Binali Yıldırım, Nurettin Canikli and Ömer Çelik have been suggested as potential candidates.

HASAN KANBOLAT (Cihan/Today's Zaman)