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Turkish Press Review, 07-07-20

Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>

Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning

20.07.2007


CONTENTS

  • [01] IN GUMUSHANE AND BAYBURT, ERDOGAN MAKES CASE FOR SECOND AKP TERM
  • [02] GUL CRITICIZES SEZER’S VETO OF GOVT NOMINEE FOR NSC SECRETARY-GENERAL
  • [03] IN SAKARYA, BAYKAL CRITICIZES AKP PRIVATIZATION POLICIES
  • [04] BAHCELI CAMPAIGNS DOWN TO THE WIRE IN TOKAT
  • [05] AGAR: “WITHIN A YEAR, I WILL END TERRORISM”
  • [06] WAR ACADEMIES GRADUATES GET DIPLOMAS
  • [07] TOBB HEAD: “TURKEY COULD MOVE UP TO JOIN THE TOP 10 RICHEST COUNTRIES”
  • [08] A STYLE UNSUITABLE FOR THE NEW PARLIAMENT!
  • [09] VOTER TURNOUT WILL DETERMINE THE OUTCOME

  • [01] IN GUMUSHANE AND BAYBURT, ERDOGAN MAKES CASE FOR SECOND AKP TERM

    Addressing crowds in Bayburt and Gumushane yesterday in the countdown to this weekend’s general elections, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that with the election of his party in the fall 2002 elections, a crisis-plagued Turkey had undergone a “silent revolution” and gained confidence in the future. The premier further stated that if his party gets a second term, it would try to further strengthen development. “July 22 will be our nation’s day of decision,” he said. Erdogan also criticized his ballot box rivals, including opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli, and Young Party (GP) leader Cem Uzan. /Turkiye/

    [02] GUL CRITICIZES SEZER’S VETO OF GOVT NOMINEE FOR NSC SECRETARY- GENERAL

    Speaking in Kayseri yesterday, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul criticized President Ahmet Necdet Sezer vetoing the government’s nominee to succeed National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Yigit Alpogan, whose term in office has ended. Saying that he proposed Turkey’s Ambassador to Athens Tahsin Burcuoglu for the post, Gul stated that at such a critical time, he wants him to take up his duties as soon as possible. “This isn’t a problem of the government, but of Turkey itself,” added Gul. /Sabah/

    [03] IN SAKARYA, BAYKAL CRITICIZES AKP PRIVATIZATION POLICIES

    At a campaign rally in Sakarya, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday criticized the privatization policies of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Baykal was accompanied by his party’s Deputy Chairman Mehmet Sevigen and local candidates for deputy. After the rally, Baykal continued campaigning in Eskisehir. /Hurriyet-Cumhuriyet/

    [04] BAHCELI CAMPAIGNS DOWN TO THE WIRE IN TOKAT

    Wooing voters in Tokat, opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli yesterday blasted the government’s handling of forest fires, which he called a national security problem. “The government should immediately deal with it,” he said. “These fires have become a national disaster. Our forests in Antalya, Mugla, Mersin, Osmaniye, Balikesir and Izmir are burning. The reasons behind this should be investigated. We should see whether these were terrorist acts or the result of carelessness.” Bahceli also criticized the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). /Hurriyet/

    [05] AGAR: “WITHIN A YEAR, I WILL END TERRORISM”

    Addressing a campaign rally in Isparta yesterday, opposition Democrat Party (DP) leader Mehmet Agar tried to up the ante on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s pledge to quit politics if the AKP fails to win a second single- party term. “If I don’t end terrorism completely within one year, I will leave the Prime Ministry, not politics,” he said. Then Agar proceeded to a rally in Konya. /Cumhuriyet/

    [06] WAR ACADEMIES GRADUATES GET DIPLOMAS

    The War Academies in Ankara yesterday held their summer commencement. Present at the ceremony were President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, and Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit. Addressing the graduates, War Academies Commander Gen. Aydogan Babaoglu said that they would be the most important safeguards of the secular, democratic, and social Turkish Republic. /Turkiye/

    [07] TOBB HEAD: “TURKEY COULD MOVE UP TO JOIN THE TOP 10 RICHEST COUNTRIES”

    Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) head Rifat Hisarciklioglu yesterday attended a meeting of the Izmir Chamber of Commerce (IZTO). Addressing the gathering, Hisarciklioglu said that Turkey could move up to join the ranks of the world’s 10 richest countries, adding that its per capita income could also be raised to $10,000. Saying that the new post-election government would need time to do its work, Hisarciklioglu added that constitutional changes were needed to give the economy a boost. /Turkiye/

    FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...

    [08] A STYLE UNSUITABLE FOR THE NEW PARLIAMENT!

    BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)

    Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the strong language politicians use at campaign rallies. A summary of his column is as follows:

    “Today I wanted to give a number of examples of recent statements made by political party leaders at campaign rallies. But then I gave up because you probably wouldn’t like to read or hear these ugly statements all over again...

    Politicians have yet to understand that their aggressive, worthless style disturbs many people.

    We had hoped that the political party leaders, at least in the last week of campaigning, would change their approach and begin to discuss the real problems of the public instead of aiming barbs at each other...

    Unfortunately, our expectations weren’t met, and politicians played the same old song throughout the campaign...

    One of the hallmarks of this election is the poor quality of the statements made by the politicians in their public addresses.

    Of course, previous elections also saw harsh words, but in my opinion, this time it’s reached a peak.

    Why did this happen?

    Perhaps the politicians thought that their strong words would stir people up, in other words, this style would win them votes. Or maybe this style is rooted in their characters. They have short tempers. Do they feel they owe their fellow politicians good advice?

    Is another reason the crowds cheering such statements at campaign rallies?

    These are all possibilities. But whatever the reason, this approach doesn’t suit our democracy.

    I wish that the silent majority bothered by this style could tell the politicians, ‘We don’t like your approach, stop lashing out at each other, and instead focus on our country’s real problems.’

    I hope that this aggressive and bellicose style is left behind and is absent from the post-election Parliament.

    Whatever the outcome of Sunday’s elections, the new Parliament will have a different composition from the current one. It will probably have more parties and independents from different political viewpoints, regions and ethnicities.

    Many contentious issues are awaiting the new Parliament. The presidential election is the first priority, of course ... Afterwards there will be many other domestic and international issues which urgently need debate.

    Now the public expects lawmakers to display a conciliatory, constructive attitude in the new Parliament so as to face the country’s pressing issues...”

    [09] VOTER TURNOUT WILL DETERMINE THE OUTCOME

    BY TUFAN TURENC (HURRIYET)

    Columnist Tufan Turenc comments on poll predictions for Sunday’s general elections. A summary of his column is as follows:

    “The Democrat Party (DP) will determine the outcome of Sunday’s elections. If, in defiance of the expectations and predictions, the DP crosses the 10% election threshold, this will be the end of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) rule. Because a four-party Parliament would make a single-party government impossible. Then the polls showing the DP consistently below the threshold will go into history’s dustbin. On the other hand, if the center-right parties can’t get enough votes, as the polls show, and just three parties cross the threshold, the percentage of votes going to the AKP will rise, as in that case most of the votes of the center right will go to the AKP. Should the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) get 45% of the votes, the AKP can’t come to power alone. There’s yet another possibility: If people’s votes reflect their concern about the regime, the CHP may benefit. Sunday’s election is very complicated, and making predictions is no easy task.

    Another interesting point about the elections is the differences between various polls. For instance, one poll shows the AKP with 48%, while another shows 30%. The CHP ranges between 19% and 28%. The results of polls conducted scientifically shouldn’t differ so dramatically. We’ll see on Sunday evening that some of these polls are far from scientific. But beware, because the same shady firms will do polls in future elections, and some newspapers will publish them. In Western countries, such companies have their licenses revoked.

    We’ve seen a difficult election campaign due to the high mercury, but it’s still very interesting. Quarrels between the party leaders make the atmosphere tense sometimes, but at other times they make it humorous. For instance we shouldn’t take Prime Minister Erdogan’s pledge to give up politics if he can’t come to power alone so seriously. Because he generally forgets his promises. For instance, he pledged many times in the 2002 election campaign to end parliamentary immunity, but he hasn’t done it. A similar example is pledges to fight corruption.”


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