Analysts comment on Turkish local elections

Analysts also say the results are an important in gauging that Kurdish nationalism is on the rise. Here are some excerpts from columns in Monday’s newspapers.

 

OKTAY EKSI - CHIEF COLUMNIST FOR HURRIYETÂ

"The luck of the AKP leadership lies in the lack of an opposition, unfortunately, that is excited and determined to take power. Therefore this result can only be explained by the AKP's mistakes and factors beyond its control, instead of success of the opposition.  Â

 

The most important factor is the global financial crisis. The second, but just as important as the first, is Tayyip Erdogan's political style which is based on reprimanding people and creating tension. The third (factor) is the supporters of the Felicity Party, or SP, took back their votes from AKP. The fourth factor is Erdogan's mentality of imposition."

 

 

MEHMET YILMAZ - HURRIYET

"AKP now has two choices: It can push its votes to lower levels by continuing the crisis policy it pursued after the latest elections or can take lessons from its mistakes and lean towards a new policy. For CHP to become an alternative for government (its leader Deniz) Baykal should quit. CHP should enter the upcoming elections with brand new leftist policies created in line with the specific realities of Turkey under a new and young leader elected through a democratic race within the party."

 

 

ERDAL SAFAK - EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF SABAH

"These results mean that Turkey could face the possibility of dividing into political camps. This could have positive as well as negative impacts. On the positive side, we can mention that seeking political consensus during the constitutional amendment preparations, which is likely to come up on the agenda soon, is now more important and even inevitable. The negative impacts will focus on the southeast. The success of (DTP) places it in an important position in a dialogue processes aimed at resolving the Kurdish issue. There is no benefit in hiding something that is known by everybody, which is that as the DTP's weight increases, so does the PKK's. The cards will be shuffled especially in the southeast after these election results."

 

 

MEHMET BARLAS - CHIEF COLUMNIST OF SABAH

As a result, this is a general local election. But both opposition and the government see the results as a "confidence vote for the AKP." Especially the intense election campaigning run by Prime Minister Erdogan that transformed this local election into a general election atmosphere. However these election results will not make any changes in our lives.

On the other hand there is another reality that we should all be aware of. The fourth largest party of Turkey is the (pro-Kurdish) DTP. It is no longer possible to make assumptions on the future of democratic politics in Turkey without taking the "Kurdish reality" into consideration. The results of these general local elections prove this further.

 

 

FIKRET BILA - ANKARA BUREAU CHIEF OF MILLIYET

"The results of the local elections are a serious warning for the ruling party AKP. Support to Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and the AKP fell for the first time after increasing in three consecutive elections. We should admit that the economic crisis has had a serious impact.

The results also show that CHP's policies are more successful compared to past. MHP's results show that its support is increasingly stable."

 

 

TAHA AKYOL - MILLIYET

"The conservatives are important within AKP's votes. The provinces it exceeded its nationwide average are conservative areas. CHP cannot overcome this cultural wall and cannot take voters from the AKP. The prime minister should leave behind his angry and aggressive behavior in campaigning and focus on the economy by showing the maturity expected from a statesman. Perhaps the most important result of this election is the Kurdish nationalists’ widening of their voter base and strengthening its image as a "region". This is a very serious alarm that everybody should cool-headedly consider."

 

 

BILAL CETIN - ANKARA BUREAU CHIEF OF VATAN

"The Turkish prime minister and his leadership targeted exceeding 50 percent in yesterday's local elections. The results show that the upward period for the AKP has ended. There are two possible reasons for that: First his choice to pursue tense policies and secondly the economic crisis that he underestimated, as well as increased corruption claims. If it continues, this downward trend poses a serious warning and even risk for the general elections due in spring of 2011. Turkey could return to coalition governments after the 2011 elections."

 

 

MURAT YETKIN - ANKARA BUREAU CHIEF OF RADIKAL

"It is inevitable that the opposition parties will push for early elections after these results. The prime minister will not be willing to do this. But Erdogan should balance his policies and rhetoric immediately. The results show both domestically and internationally that the only government choice is not AKP. If the AKP succeeded in gaining at least 47 percent, as it anticipated, it might have found the confidence to put the constitutional amendments to referendum. But now it may not want to do that. The Turkish public reminded Erdogan that its support is not unconditional and may come to an end at some point."