Last junction in battle
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Aram Ekin Duran and Gülşen Cebeci - Referans
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Şubat 28, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - The race for presidency of the Istanbul Chamber of Industry, or ISO, and the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, or ITO, was at its last junction on Friday. ITOand ISOmembers will elect their new leaders on Saturday, but the race entered its final hours with the shadow of the governing party, AKP
The rivalry at Istanbul’s top business organizations is getting fiercer with the emergence of new names. At the Istanbul Chamber of Industry, or ISO, and the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, or ITO, there was no rival for the current presidents prior to last Monday’s elections of the functional commissions and assembly members. However, during the week, new candidates have emerged for presidency. İbrahim Çağlar announced his candidateship against Murat Yalçıntaş at ITO, while Süleyman Orakçıoğlu emerged against Tanıl Küçük at ISO.
"Yalçıntaş owes me the presidency. He’d better recede," said Çağlar, who worked together with Yalçıntaş for four years. Orakçıoğlu, who set off with the "Değişim Group" (Change Group), reacted against claims regarding the government’s intervention for his candidacy.
The disruption between Yalçıntaş and Çağlar, who acted together during the foundation of the Justice and Development Party, or AKP, has brought a different dimension to the competition at ITO.
"Yalçıntaş had better withdraw from the contest," said Çağlar. "It would be a sign of decency and maturity. I would expect such an attitude from my friend. I expect him to show the courtesy I displayed for him at the previous election."
Çağlar said he has who decided to act together with Ali Kopuz, an opposition name in the management.
In the new period, not individual management but collective efforts will reign at ITO, said Çağlar. Two-thirds of new assembly members following the election of functional commissions support Yalçıntaş, according to his statement. "I will not withdraw. I am ready for the contest."
Candidate names for the new board will not be announced before the election Saturday, said Çağlar. In victory, Çağlar said he would focus on collective work. Kopuz, the board member who supports Çağlar, said they have received positive feedback from İTO members.
Yalçıntaş and his deputy Çağlar joined forces in 2005 in the ITO election and won the seat from Mehmet Yıldırım. Yalçıntaş is a former Istanbul provincial leader for the AKP and Çağlar is among the founding members of the party.
Competition at ISO
Tanıl Küçük, candidate for presidency at ISO, declined to comment on the candidacy of Süleyman Orakçıoğlu. However, businessmen that support Küçük said AKP intervened in the process on behalf of Orakçıoğlu. "They chose Orakçıoğlu for a change in image. However, ISO has a strong foundation. A noteworthy reflex will emerge against Orakçıoğlu. İSO is among the last fortresses, and we will not have it snatched."
The opposition against Küçük, which gathered around the Değişim Group, agreed on Orakçıoğlu’s candidacy in order to prevent a division in the ranks. Orakçıoğlu refuted claims regarding AKP support. "We are not dependent on Ankara," he said. Defending that ISO has lost its efficiency in recent years, he said, "An institution that represents 40 percent of Turkish industry should display this power abroad, too. By forming a global network, it should provide a new expansion. Turkish industry has stepped into a new age in production. Moreover, it should reveal its power in marketing. By developing projects, it should create new resources, and loom large with research and development and design."
"Yalçıntaş owes me the presidency. He’d better recede," said Çağlar, who worked together with Yalçıntaş for four years. Orakçıoğlu, who set off with the "Değişim Group" (Change Group), reacted against claims regarding the government’s intervention for his candidacy.
The disruption between Yalçıntaş and Çağlar, who acted together during the foundation of the Justice and Development Party, or AKP, has brought a different dimension to the competition at ITO.
"Yalçıntaş had better withdraw from the contest," said Çağlar. "It would be a sign of decency and maturity. I would expect such an attitude from my friend. I expect him to show the courtesy I displayed for him at the previous election."
Çağlar said he has who decided to act together with Ali Kopuz, an opposition name in the management.
In the new period, not individual management but collective efforts will reign at ITO, said Çağlar. Two-thirds of new assembly members following the election of functional commissions support Yalçıntaş, according to his statement. "I will not withdraw. I am ready for the contest."
Candidate names for the new board will not be announced before the election Saturday, said Çağlar. In victory, Çağlar said he would focus on collective work. Kopuz, the board member who supports Çağlar, said they have received positive feedback from İTO members.
Yalçıntaş and his deputy Çağlar joined forces in 2005 in the ITO election and won the seat from Mehmet Yıldırım. Yalçıntaş is a former Istanbul provincial leader for the AKP and Çağlar is among the founding members of the party.
Competition at ISO
Tanıl Küçük, candidate for presidency at ISO, declined to comment on the candidacy of Süleyman Orakçıoğlu. However, businessmen that support Küçük said AKP intervened in the process on behalf of Orakçıoğlu. "They chose Orakçıoğlu for a change in image. However, ISO has a strong foundation. A noteworthy reflex will emerge against Orakçıoğlu. İSO is among the last fortresses, and we will not have it snatched."
The opposition against Küçük, which gathered around the Değişim Group, agreed on Orakçıoğlu’s candidacy in order to prevent a division in the ranks. Orakçıoğlu refuted claims regarding AKP support. "We are not dependent on Ankara," he said. Defending that ISO has lost its efficiency in recent years, he said, "An institution that represents 40 percent of Turkish industry should display this power abroad, too. By forming a global network, it should provide a new expansion. Turkish industry has stepped into a new age in production. Moreover, it should reveal its power in marketing. By developing projects, it should create new resources, and loom large with research and development and design."