Kılıçdaroğlu campaign a success even if no win
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Şafak Timur
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 31, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Although Kemal Kılıçadaroğlu could not win at the ballot box, he increased the party’s support and helped it win some new districts in Istanbul. Kılıçdaroğlu’s success creates a long-needed opportunity for a change in the CHP, says former party deputy İnal Batu. But before it decides who will lead, ’first a decision for change is needed’
On Sunday night, the election coordination center of the Republican People’s Party, or CHP, bustled with party campaigners of all ages despite the fatigue apparent in their eyes after many sleepless days.
Newspaper clippings about corruption allegations against the current municipal administration, banners with slogans and a piece of paper with the motto, "There is no failure, there is renunciation," all hung on the walls to fuel the energy of the supporters in the last hours of the competition between the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, and the CHP for the metropolitan municipality of Istanbul. Beside the door, over a blackboard, was written: "The salvation day of Istanbul."
"We have been working so hard for a very long time. [Kılıçdaroğlu] is an honest and clean man. We are here not only for the party. We believe in him in our hearts," Eren Ege said of the CHP candidate, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. At 27, Ege is one of the leaders of the youth branch of the CHP. His remarks were made in the early hours of Monday, when the race was neck and neck.
As morning approached, the results shifted and the AKP declared victory. According to unofficial results, Topbaş won the Istanbul ballot with 44 percent while Kılıçdaroğlu received almost 37 percent. Despite the loss, the CHP increased the percentage of votes it received in the city almost eight points over the last local elections in 2004, leading many to see the election as a success.
Especially since he joined the Istanbul race quite belatedly, only 64 days before the elections, the fact that Kılıçdaroğlu was able to mobilize so many voters makes him a potential candidate to head the CHP in the eyes of opponents of party leader Deniz Baykal, who has long been resented by the group’s social democrat constituency.
"I thought before the elections that 35 percent [for the CHP in Istanbul] would be a success and 40 percent would be a revolution," said Şükrü Küçükşahin, a columnist for daily Hürriyet. "An in-between result occurred, which is a success for Kılıçdaroğlu and Gürsel Tekin [the Istanbul province head of the CHP] together. These two names have great support from the people and now they are strong as well." Serious changes to the CHP would not have to mean changing its leader, Küçükşahin said.
Opportunity for change
Kılıçdaroğlu’s success creates a long-needed opportunity for a change in the CHP, said former party deputy İnal Batu. But before it can decide who will lead, "first a decision for change is needed," he added. Although Kılıçadaroğlu could not win at the ballot box, he increased the party’s support and helped it win some new districts in Istanbul.
Former minister and deputy Onur Kumbaracıbaşı said it would be more possible for Kılıçdaroğlu to win in Ankara. "The party presented him not to win, but to increase votes for the party." Kumbaracıbaşı is not as optimistic as others about Kılıçdaroğlu’s political future. "He would go back to the party as a nonstarter and would not attempt to be the savior of the party."
For his part, Kılıçdaroğlu issued a press statement yesterday in response to questions about the party leadership. "We have a respectful and mature leader in the CHP who leads us and is an example for us with his accumulation," Kılıçdaroğlu said. "I would never want conflict within the party. We would exclude the culture of conflict from the party. We are determined for this."
Newspaper clippings about corruption allegations against the current municipal administration, banners with slogans and a piece of paper with the motto, "There is no failure, there is renunciation," all hung on the walls to fuel the energy of the supporters in the last hours of the competition between the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, and the CHP for the metropolitan municipality of Istanbul. Beside the door, over a blackboard, was written: "The salvation day of Istanbul."
"We have been working so hard for a very long time. [Kılıçdaroğlu] is an honest and clean man. We are here not only for the party. We believe in him in our hearts," Eren Ege said of the CHP candidate, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. At 27, Ege is one of the leaders of the youth branch of the CHP. His remarks were made in the early hours of Monday, when the race was neck and neck.
As morning approached, the results shifted and the AKP declared victory. According to unofficial results, Topbaş won the Istanbul ballot with 44 percent while Kılıçdaroğlu received almost 37 percent. Despite the loss, the CHP increased the percentage of votes it received in the city almost eight points over the last local elections in 2004, leading many to see the election as a success.
Especially since he joined the Istanbul race quite belatedly, only 64 days before the elections, the fact that Kılıçdaroğlu was able to mobilize so many voters makes him a potential candidate to head the CHP in the eyes of opponents of party leader Deniz Baykal, who has long been resented by the group’s social democrat constituency.
"I thought before the elections that 35 percent [for the CHP in Istanbul] would be a success and 40 percent would be a revolution," said Şükrü Küçükşahin, a columnist for daily Hürriyet. "An in-between result occurred, which is a success for Kılıçdaroğlu and Gürsel Tekin [the Istanbul province head of the CHP] together. These two names have great support from the people and now they are strong as well." Serious changes to the CHP would not have to mean changing its leader, Küçükşahin said.
Opportunity for change
Kılıçdaroğlu’s success creates a long-needed opportunity for a change in the CHP, said former party deputy İnal Batu. But before it can decide who will lead, "first a decision for change is needed," he added. Although Kılıçadaroğlu could not win at the ballot box, he increased the party’s support and helped it win some new districts in Istanbul.
Former minister and deputy Onur Kumbaracıbaşı said it would be more possible for Kılıçdaroğlu to win in Ankara. "The party presented him not to win, but to increase votes for the party." Kumbaracıbaşı is not as optimistic as others about Kılıçdaroğlu’s political future. "He would go back to the party as a nonstarter and would not attempt to be the savior of the party."
For his part, Kılıçdaroğlu issued a press statement yesterday in response to questions about the party leadership. "We have a respectful and mature leader in the CHP who leads us and is an example for us with his accumulation," Kılıçdaroğlu said. "I would never want conflict within the party. We would exclude the culture of conflict from the party. We are determined for this."