An elder statesman seeking unity on center-right
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by GUL DEMİR & NIKI GAMM
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Haziran 20, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL -Turkey has more than one senior statesmen but rarely these days do they decide to head a political party after a number of years off the public stage.
Hüsamettin Cindoruk is 76 years old and can look back at a career that started with a role on the defense team for Prime Minister Adnan Menderes when he was tried for a variety of charges. Cindoruk later became speaker of the Turkish Parliament.
Cindoruk is a lawyer by training. One story goes that his father insisted that he go to school rather than pursue athletics. He graduated in law and expresses a profound respect for the law today; he refuses to be drawn over recent headline issues about Ergenekon and Lighthouse. Following Menderes’ execution and after civilian rule was restored, he joined the Justice Party.
1985 found him secretary general of the True Path Party, or DYP, a continuation of the Justice Party, which was closed and whose leader, Süleyman Demirel, was forced to distance himself from politics after the 1980 military coup. When Demirel returned to politics, he took over from Cindoruk, who became the 17th speaker of Parliament between 1991-1995.
There’s a saying in English Ğ "He who hesitates is lost." That’s what happened following the death of President Turgut Özal in 1993. Demirel became president and Cindoruk might have become prime minister, but he hesitated so long that Tansu Çiller was able to press for her candidacy. It is reported that Cindoruk never forgave himself for not having pushed forward with his own candidacy, especially since Çiller had no political experience.
His party
In 1995 Cindoruk resigned as Parliament speaker and founded his own political party, the Party for a Democratic Turkey. Unfortunately it was never particularly successful in the general elections of 1996 and again in 1999. As a result, he quit the chairmanship and left active politics.
And now in 2009 he’s back again, this time as general chairman of the Democrat Party, DP.
The DP is a party that openly traces its roots to Celal Bayar, Turkey’s third president, who founded the Democrat Party in 1946. It won an overwhelming majority in the first free general election in Turkish history in 1950. Bayar served three terms as president over 10 years but was arrested along with Adnan Menderes, who was his prime minister. Bayar was not sentenced to death but served a prison term and years later was finally pardoned.
This year four candidates, including Cindoruk, put their names up for election at the DP’s fifth extraordinary congress. None received enough votes until the third round. Prior to it, two of the four candidates withdrew and as one had been eliminated previously, Cindoruk was the sole candidate and was elected general chairman. In accepting the position, Cindoruk stressed how the party would become the party of peace in Turkey. He talked of a new beginning. "We will try to unite the various political parties and all the political identities and personalities of all the circles that remain without hope. We will work to establish a united center party.
"We are beginning a new politics with an old politician. There are my experiences, my disappointments, my successes and the lessons that I’ve taken from politics. We will carry all of these to the DP in our new political life. We will do it hand-in-hand for Turkey’s development. Not a single colleague of mine will not be trifled with. We will be a party that doesn’t expel people but rather imports them. We will not be exporters but rather importers. We will help the party in power to be held to its own criteria. ..."
After Cindoruk was chosen chairman, a series of resignations occurred. Deputy Chairman Ufuk Söylemez said the May 27 vote couldn’t be considered a coup. "Demirel and Cindoruk were both symbols of the founding of the party. Resignations from the party were a personal matter." He evaluated these as the resignations that happen after every party congress.
Then Aydın Menderes, the son of the late prime minister, said he would no longer be involved in the party until Cindoruk left. Menderes accused Cindoruk of having provided logistic support for Ergenekon, which has been blamed with plotting a coup attempt. Söylemez described Menderes’ attitude as lacking in support and conscience. He added that they rejected these types of approach that originated in political rivalry and other concerns and considered them shameful.
At present the DP and the Motherland Party, or ANAVATAN, are discussing how to unite in order to have more strength at the polls. The party tried unsuccessfully to unite for the 2007 elections, but it did not result in success. The talks have been carried out between Cindoruk, ANAVATAN Chairman Salih Uzun and Mehmet Ağar, a past ANAVATAN chairman. Uzun announced that the dovetailing would be completed by the end of this year.
The DP and tradition
Cindoruk has lived through three coups, including the pseudo-coup of Feb. 28, when the bottom dropped out of the monetary system overnight with the devaluation of the Turkish lira. He has seen many events and problems from the inside out. He is known for his keen eyes and also his sense of humor; for example, he described himself as "the hero whose novel hasn’t been written yet." But what he does with the DP will not be a novel.
The DP is traditionally considered a socially conservative, economically liberal party. "To repeat the traditional organization that we wanted to do [was our goal]. Basically traditions quickly come to life. If it is in the traditional description, if it is influential, if it is lively. We are continually trying to do the same thing here. If the central organization were an environmental organization, as we say in politics, how would there be an ecological environment in politics; there are political organizations. We think that Turkey needs this."
Asked whether a united center right would be able to gather enough support, Cindoruk said: "If I hadn’t seen such a possibility, such a probability ... One of the threatening areas now is my age. At this age, no one thinks of someone embarking on an adventure from the place he stopped. Naturally we have begun a process during which we were in agreement with the people who had governed our country, and we talked among ourselves and argued.
"This process is not against the party in power. This process will fill a hole in democracy by putting politics into the places it should stay. I won’t do this, we won’t do this, the people will do this. Because our people are the capital investment for this work. The electors thanks to the developments from 1946 until today have gotten lost for some reason."
Concerning the Justice and Development Party, or AKP, Cindoruk said: "The AKP is struggling with the details, as I see it. And it always lives in fear of a coup. There is a suspicion of it because there has been the feeling that a ’coup’ will be created against it. Court cases were opened in order to prevent it from entering a fight. Instructions were given to the prosecutor. In parliamentary group meetings, the prime minister only but takes up these subjects. He says dirty things against the opposition.
"In Turkey there are at least 50 topics that exist but are not being debated today. If you get up to put your hands on TUBITAK, if you open the debate on evolution, you put your hand on science, the media. In Turkey, there’s no field that you haven’t put your hand on.
"In response to this there is a decision that has become like a door against you, the decision that the Constitutional Court gave about you [to leave AKP open but to levy a large fine]. You have moved on to defending yourselves wherever you reside to erase the traces of this decision. The AKP thinks some people will overthrow it and will instigate a coup against it because of these groundless apprehensions. It is taking measures to defend itself, nothing else."
Of considerable importance is the subject of a new constitution for Turkey. "Every week I ask the AKP, ’We are ready to contribute to this constitution.’ Now we are engaged in preparations. We will produce this. The preparation that was done in the Turkish Progressive Workers Unions’ Confederation [or DISK] let us completely get it settled. Let’s debate with nongovernmental organizations and all the parties. Let’s produce the constitution together. [The AKP] hasn’t even had time to consider this proposal. From morning to night they struggle with the details and try to defend themselves."
Pointing out that the AKP is gathering votes both from the center right and the center left, the Daily News asked about how he saw this distribution. Cindoruk pointed out: "The spread is temporary. That is, these stop when the basic owners of the field ascend to the field. When we want, we will ascend to this field, and we will take this field back from them." When asked about his moving toward a political goal that would embrace society, the elder statesman replied, "Now the period of uniting has started in Turkey. Decomposition has increased a lot. Let’s meet in a center party with those who are closest to us. Let’s fill in this empty space. If the left wants, let them solve such a meeting among themselves. Let them put politics in its place."
Cindoruk is known to be ambitious without being ambitious and giving his energy on behalf of society for years. It is hard to understand why he would leave his comfortable life in which he was on the fringes of politics. So why politics again?
His response: "As I’ve said, to fill this empty space."
"OK, for how long?"
"To the extent that this is possible, it has to happen within a short time. If we are perceptive, naturally it will be realized." Speaking to the issue of his age two years ago when he first began considering running for DP chairman, Cindoruk indicated that he thought he had a good six years. So until he’s 80 years old, we can expect him to continue to be involved in politics.
Cindoruk is a lawyer by training. One story goes that his father insisted that he go to school rather than pursue athletics. He graduated in law and expresses a profound respect for the law today; he refuses to be drawn over recent headline issues about Ergenekon and Lighthouse. Following Menderes’ execution and after civilian rule was restored, he joined the Justice Party.
1985 found him secretary general of the True Path Party, or DYP, a continuation of the Justice Party, which was closed and whose leader, Süleyman Demirel, was forced to distance himself from politics after the 1980 military coup. When Demirel returned to politics, he took over from Cindoruk, who became the 17th speaker of Parliament between 1991-1995.
There’s a saying in English Ğ "He who hesitates is lost." That’s what happened following the death of President Turgut Özal in 1993. Demirel became president and Cindoruk might have become prime minister, but he hesitated so long that Tansu Çiller was able to press for her candidacy. It is reported that Cindoruk never forgave himself for not having pushed forward with his own candidacy, especially since Çiller had no political experience.
His party
In 1995 Cindoruk resigned as Parliament speaker and founded his own political party, the Party for a Democratic Turkey. Unfortunately it was never particularly successful in the general elections of 1996 and again in 1999. As a result, he quit the chairmanship and left active politics.
And now in 2009 he’s back again, this time as general chairman of the Democrat Party, DP.
The DP is a party that openly traces its roots to Celal Bayar, Turkey’s third president, who founded the Democrat Party in 1946. It won an overwhelming majority in the first free general election in Turkish history in 1950. Bayar served three terms as president over 10 years but was arrested along with Adnan Menderes, who was his prime minister. Bayar was not sentenced to death but served a prison term and years later was finally pardoned.
This year four candidates, including Cindoruk, put their names up for election at the DP’s fifth extraordinary congress. None received enough votes until the third round. Prior to it, two of the four candidates withdrew and as one had been eliminated previously, Cindoruk was the sole candidate and was elected general chairman. In accepting the position, Cindoruk stressed how the party would become the party of peace in Turkey. He talked of a new beginning. "We will try to unite the various political parties and all the political identities and personalities of all the circles that remain without hope. We will work to establish a united center party.
"We are beginning a new politics with an old politician. There are my experiences, my disappointments, my successes and the lessons that I’ve taken from politics. We will carry all of these to the DP in our new political life. We will do it hand-in-hand for Turkey’s development. Not a single colleague of mine will not be trifled with. We will be a party that doesn’t expel people but rather imports them. We will not be exporters but rather importers. We will help the party in power to be held to its own criteria. ..."
After Cindoruk was chosen chairman, a series of resignations occurred. Deputy Chairman Ufuk Söylemez said the May 27 vote couldn’t be considered a coup. "Demirel and Cindoruk were both symbols of the founding of the party. Resignations from the party were a personal matter." He evaluated these as the resignations that happen after every party congress.
Then Aydın Menderes, the son of the late prime minister, said he would no longer be involved in the party until Cindoruk left. Menderes accused Cindoruk of having provided logistic support for Ergenekon, which has been blamed with plotting a coup attempt. Söylemez described Menderes’ attitude as lacking in support and conscience. He added that they rejected these types of approach that originated in political rivalry and other concerns and considered them shameful.
At present the DP and the Motherland Party, or ANAVATAN, are discussing how to unite in order to have more strength at the polls. The party tried unsuccessfully to unite for the 2007 elections, but it did not result in success. The talks have been carried out between Cindoruk, ANAVATAN Chairman Salih Uzun and Mehmet Ağar, a past ANAVATAN chairman. Uzun announced that the dovetailing would be completed by the end of this year.
The DP and tradition
Cindoruk has lived through three coups, including the pseudo-coup of Feb. 28, when the bottom dropped out of the monetary system overnight with the devaluation of the Turkish lira. He has seen many events and problems from the inside out. He is known for his keen eyes and also his sense of humor; for example, he described himself as "the hero whose novel hasn’t been written yet." But what he does with the DP will not be a novel.
The DP is traditionally considered a socially conservative, economically liberal party. "To repeat the traditional organization that we wanted to do [was our goal]. Basically traditions quickly come to life. If it is in the traditional description, if it is influential, if it is lively. We are continually trying to do the same thing here. If the central organization were an environmental organization, as we say in politics, how would there be an ecological environment in politics; there are political organizations. We think that Turkey needs this."
Asked whether a united center right would be able to gather enough support, Cindoruk said: "If I hadn’t seen such a possibility, such a probability ... One of the threatening areas now is my age. At this age, no one thinks of someone embarking on an adventure from the place he stopped. Naturally we have begun a process during which we were in agreement with the people who had governed our country, and we talked among ourselves and argued.
"This process is not against the party in power. This process will fill a hole in democracy by putting politics into the places it should stay. I won’t do this, we won’t do this, the people will do this. Because our people are the capital investment for this work. The electors thanks to the developments from 1946 until today have gotten lost for some reason."
Concerning the Justice and Development Party, or AKP, Cindoruk said: "The AKP is struggling with the details, as I see it. And it always lives in fear of a coup. There is a suspicion of it because there has been the feeling that a ’coup’ will be created against it. Court cases were opened in order to prevent it from entering a fight. Instructions were given to the prosecutor. In parliamentary group meetings, the prime minister only but takes up these subjects. He says dirty things against the opposition.
"In Turkey there are at least 50 topics that exist but are not being debated today. If you get up to put your hands on TUBITAK, if you open the debate on evolution, you put your hand on science, the media. In Turkey, there’s no field that you haven’t put your hand on.
"In response to this there is a decision that has become like a door against you, the decision that the Constitutional Court gave about you [to leave AKP open but to levy a large fine]. You have moved on to defending yourselves wherever you reside to erase the traces of this decision. The AKP thinks some people will overthrow it and will instigate a coup against it because of these groundless apprehensions. It is taking measures to defend itself, nothing else."
Of considerable importance is the subject of a new constitution for Turkey. "Every week I ask the AKP, ’We are ready to contribute to this constitution.’ Now we are engaged in preparations. We will produce this. The preparation that was done in the Turkish Progressive Workers Unions’ Confederation [or DISK] let us completely get it settled. Let’s debate with nongovernmental organizations and all the parties. Let’s produce the constitution together. [The AKP] hasn’t even had time to consider this proposal. From morning to night they struggle with the details and try to defend themselves."
Pointing out that the AKP is gathering votes both from the center right and the center left, the Daily News asked about how he saw this distribution. Cindoruk pointed out: "The spread is temporary. That is, these stop when the basic owners of the field ascend to the field. When we want, we will ascend to this field, and we will take this field back from them." When asked about his moving toward a political goal that would embrace society, the elder statesman replied, "Now the period of uniting has started in Turkey. Decomposition has increased a lot. Let’s meet in a center party with those who are closest to us. Let’s fill in this empty space. If the left wants, let them solve such a meeting among themselves. Let them put politics in its place."
Cindoruk is known to be ambitious without being ambitious and giving his energy on behalf of society for years. It is hard to understand why he would leave his comfortable life in which he was on the fringes of politics. So why politics again?
His response: "As I’ve said, to fill this empty space."
"OK, for how long?"
"To the extent that this is possible, it has to happen within a short time. If we are perceptive, naturally it will be realized." Speaking to the issue of his age two years ago when he first began considering running for DP chairman, Cindoruk indicated that he thought he had a good six years. So until he’s 80 years old, we can expect him to continue to be involved in politics.