New DP leader to unite center-right
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 18, 2009 00:00
ANKARA - The Democrat Party, or DP, elects 76-year old politician Hüsamettin Cindoruk as its new leader. Cindoruk says his aim is to unite the center-right factions under one roof. He reputed claims that he is a coup supporter, saying he is a victim of military coups instead
Veteran politician Hüsamettin Cindoruk was elected Saturday as the new leader of the Democrat Party, or DP, garnering 559 votes at the party congress.
Cindoruk, who was backed by former President Süleyman Demirel, said he would endeavor to unite the center-right, namely the DP and the Motherland Party, or ANAP, under the same umbrella.
"We will try to unite the political identities of different political parties and disparate groups," Cindoruk said. "We will try to establish a united center-right party." The new leader stressed that the DP was adopting a new policy, and said that he intends to pass the leadership post to a younger figure once the center-right unification of is achieved.
Sources said former Justice and Development Party, or AKP, senior Abdüllatif Şener, who has opposed Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on many major policies, may also play a key role in the process.
Cindoruk was a controversial name for the leadership post, as he was criticized for his stance against the Ergenekon probe and accused of being a coup-supporter.
Ergenekon accusations
Responding to the claims, Cindoruk said that he and Demirel are not coup-supporters, but rather victims of military coups. "A coup is an improvisation and has no written text or scenario. Thus, it is a catastrophe," he said, adding that a wise man does not stage a coup, but instead establishes a political party.
Cindoruk’s strongest rival was Soylu, who had former Prime Minister Tansu Çiller’s support. During his speech, he criticized Demirel and Cindoruk indirectly, without saying their names.
In response to accusations that he follows similar policies as the ruling party, Soylu said he is not the one who split the party and led an increase in the AKP’s votes. "You brought about the AKP’s rise," he said. "I do not mean our president [Demirel], but the mentality."
In the first two sessions of voting, no candidates gained an absolute majority. Yazgan withdrew his candidacy after not winning any votes in the first session. After the second session, Soylu and Bayar also announced their withdrawals, opening the way for Cindoruk, who had come in first in the sessions.
Cindoruk, who was backed by former President Süleyman Demirel, said he would endeavor to unite the center-right, namely the DP and the Motherland Party, or ANAP, under the same umbrella.
"We will try to unite the political identities of different political parties and disparate groups," Cindoruk said. "We will try to establish a united center-right party." The new leader stressed that the DP was adopting a new policy, and said that he intends to pass the leadership post to a younger figure once the center-right unification of is achieved.
Sources said former Justice and Development Party, or AKP, senior Abdüllatif Şener, who has opposed Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on many major policies, may also play a key role in the process.
Cindoruk was a controversial name for the leadership post, as he was criticized for his stance against the Ergenekon probe and accused of being a coup-supporter.
Ergenekon accusations
Responding to the claims, Cindoruk said that he and Demirel are not coup-supporters, but rather victims of military coups. "A coup is an improvisation and has no written text or scenario. Thus, it is a catastrophe," he said, adding that a wise man does not stage a coup, but instead establishes a political party.
Cindoruk’s strongest rival was Soylu, who had former Prime Minister Tansu Çiller’s support. During his speech, he criticized Demirel and Cindoruk indirectly, without saying their names.
In response to accusations that he follows similar policies as the ruling party, Soylu said he is not the one who split the party and led an increase in the AKP’s votes. "You brought about the AKP’s rise," he said. "I do not mean our president [Demirel], but the mentality."
In the first two sessions of voting, no candidates gained an absolute majority. Yazgan withdrew his candidacy after not winning any votes in the first session. After the second session, Soylu and Bayar also announced their withdrawals, opening the way for Cindoruk, who had come in first in the sessions.