Expatriate’s guide to local elections in Turkey
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Jane Tuna
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 11, 2009 00:00
FETHİYE - For foreigners living in Turkey election time can be confusing, but it is possible to gather information on the parties dreaming of victory on March 29. Despite their differences, all parties are the same when it comes to their future projections:Fethiye will be an utopia, whoever wins!
In a town like Fethiye, politics generally rumble like distant thunder, but come election time, the storm breaks and everyone aligns themselves with one party or another, despite friendships or family allegiances. White vans plastered with pictures of smartly suited men and party slogans, blaring loud music (despite promises to the contrary) and trailing flags and balloons, begin to take over the streets.
For foreigners living in Turkey, election time can be confusing, but it is possible to gather some information about the different parties and begin to understand their policies and scrutinize their manifestos.
Fethiye has six parties that hope to earn support from the local electorate. Almost all have now ensconced themselves in election offices that were until recently empty shops. These temporary premises and the streets outside are decked in party colors. Between them, they have printed enough pamphlets to destroy a small forest.
’Carrots’ for voters
Scarves, pens and badges seem to be the main "carrots" dangled to attract potential voters. Despite national press reports, I personally have seen no evidence here of white goods, coal or wood being used by way of encouragement.
In order to get a balanced view of the election’s potential outcomes, I took the opportunity to visit all the parties, asking them questions that may be of interest to foreign residents. Not surprisingly, they all answered in the same optimistic and positive vein. Regardless of which party wins, it seems that Fethiye will be a utopia, although the reality maybe something else!
Since 1999, Behçet Saatcı has been the mayor of Fethiye and he, along with the members of the municipality committee, are from the Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP. The Fethiye committee consists of 25 members. They have developed the town and instigated many necessary, but sometimes controversial, programs that have to some extent strengthened the town’s infrastructure and created a more cohesive community.
The Ölüdeniz Municipality, on the other hand, has been under Republican People’s Party, or CHP, control with Kerametin Yılmaz as mayor. There are nine committee members there and the municipality has grown exponentially over the last decade.
The following parties, listed in alphabetical order, are standing for election in Fethiye and Ölüdeniz: AP (Anavatan Partisi), or Motherland Party (Ölüdeniz), AKP (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi), or Justice and Development Party, CHP (Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi), or Republican People’s Party, DP (Demokrat Parti), or Democrat Party, DSP (Demokratik Sol Parti), or Democratic Left Party (Fethiye), MHP (Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi), or Nationalist Movement Party and Saadet Partisi, or Felicity Party (Fethiye).
In my interviews with the parties, I started by asking questions dealing with tourism. All the parties agreed that Fethiye and Ölüdeniz are lagging behind other major resort areas in some ways and all proposed to encourage quality independent hotels. They all also made a commitment to help create a sustainable and economically viable tourism sector.
All the parties insisted that "working together" was the only road to success in these economically difficult times, a camaraderie they extended to the local traders and market-stall holders, who are undoubtedly suffering from the increase in supermarkets in the area.
Economic and social input by foreign nationals was also discussed, with all parties suggesting that some sort of cross-cultural committee could be formed to enrich their individual programs. The general feeling seemed to be that more needs to be done for, and with, foreigners in Fethiye.
No ban on alcohol
In particular reference to alcohol sales, AKP representatives said they would not consider changing the present entertainment areas, saying it was up to individuals to choose, not for them to legislate.
Education was an important topic that all parties addressed with equal vigor. This was particularly noticeable in discussions of environmental issues, which appear to have taken on greater importance, especially when it comes to recycling and garbage disposal in the town.
Though gender equality is enshrined in the Turkish constitution, the role of women in local politics is rather less than could be hoped. Two or three women members are the norm, although the DSP has seven and the AP has none.
All parties also talked about the need to take more community-based responsibility for the elderly and disabled, who are usually and frequently marginalized by lack of facilities or cultural differences.
It is refreshing to see that many of these issues have finally entered the discourse of local politics. But although all the parties are trying to address some very important concerns in their policy documents, it’s an open question whether these policies will actually be implemented. We can only wait and see what happens after March 29.
For foreigners living in Turkey, election time can be confusing, but it is possible to gather some information about the different parties and begin to understand their policies and scrutinize their manifestos.
Fethiye has six parties that hope to earn support from the local electorate. Almost all have now ensconced themselves in election offices that were until recently empty shops. These temporary premises and the streets outside are decked in party colors. Between them, they have printed enough pamphlets to destroy a small forest.
’Carrots’ for voters
Scarves, pens and badges seem to be the main "carrots" dangled to attract potential voters. Despite national press reports, I personally have seen no evidence here of white goods, coal or wood being used by way of encouragement.
In order to get a balanced view of the election’s potential outcomes, I took the opportunity to visit all the parties, asking them questions that may be of interest to foreign residents. Not surprisingly, they all answered in the same optimistic and positive vein. Regardless of which party wins, it seems that Fethiye will be a utopia, although the reality maybe something else!
Since 1999, Behçet Saatcı has been the mayor of Fethiye and he, along with the members of the municipality committee, are from the Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP. The Fethiye committee consists of 25 members. They have developed the town and instigated many necessary, but sometimes controversial, programs that have to some extent strengthened the town’s infrastructure and created a more cohesive community.
The Ölüdeniz Municipality, on the other hand, has been under Republican People’s Party, or CHP, control with Kerametin Yılmaz as mayor. There are nine committee members there and the municipality has grown exponentially over the last decade.
The following parties, listed in alphabetical order, are standing for election in Fethiye and Ölüdeniz: AP (Anavatan Partisi), or Motherland Party (Ölüdeniz), AKP (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi), or Justice and Development Party, CHP (Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi), or Republican People’s Party, DP (Demokrat Parti), or Democrat Party, DSP (Demokratik Sol Parti), or Democratic Left Party (Fethiye), MHP (Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi), or Nationalist Movement Party and Saadet Partisi, or Felicity Party (Fethiye).
In my interviews with the parties, I started by asking questions dealing with tourism. All the parties agreed that Fethiye and Ölüdeniz are lagging behind other major resort areas in some ways and all proposed to encourage quality independent hotels. They all also made a commitment to help create a sustainable and economically viable tourism sector.
All the parties insisted that "working together" was the only road to success in these economically difficult times, a camaraderie they extended to the local traders and market-stall holders, who are undoubtedly suffering from the increase in supermarkets in the area.
Economic and social input by foreign nationals was also discussed, with all parties suggesting that some sort of cross-cultural committee could be formed to enrich their individual programs. The general feeling seemed to be that more needs to be done for, and with, foreigners in Fethiye.
No ban on alcohol
In particular reference to alcohol sales, AKP representatives said they would not consider changing the present entertainment areas, saying it was up to individuals to choose, not for them to legislate.
Education was an important topic that all parties addressed with equal vigor. This was particularly noticeable in discussions of environmental issues, which appear to have taken on greater importance, especially when it comes to recycling and garbage disposal in the town.
Though gender equality is enshrined in the Turkish constitution, the role of women in local politics is rather less than could be hoped. Two or three women members are the norm, although the DSP has seven and the AP has none.
All parties also talked about the need to take more community-based responsibility for the elderly and disabled, who are usually and frequently marginalized by lack of facilities or cultural differences.
It is refreshing to see that many of these issues have finally entered the discourse of local politics. But although all the parties are trying to address some very important concerns in their policy documents, it’s an open question whether these policies will actually be implemented. We can only wait and see what happens after March 29.