Turkey's CHP targets support of working class, after veiled women
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) will implement a "working class opening-out" following the recent move of party chairman Deniz Baykal that was widely assessed as an opening-out to the country’s religious community ahead of the local elections, Hurriyet daily reported on Thursday.
Within the context of the new move, CHP will hold contacts with anti-Justice and Development Party (AKP) members of DISK (Confederation of Revolutionary Workers'
CHP will initially offer a freedom of association to leftist workers’ unions, DISK and KESK, in the regions where they win a victory in the March 2009 local elections. The party is also expected to make contact with the anti-government segment of Turk-Is, a union that is claimed to be under the ruling AKP's control.
A recent move of the CHP, a strong supporter of secularism in
Baykal responded to the criticism saying that reading an individual’s clothing as a challenge to secularism was a sign of obsession, and that this was an attitude that should be avoided.
DISK head, Suleyman Celebi, responded positively to the CHP's latest move and said the attitude of the union was obvious at this point and their cooperation would be aligned with those more likely to win the election, the report also said.
"We see where the politics implemented by the ruling AKP leads our public. From this perspective, it seems a consensus is needed firstly in order to bring the left wing to the ruling power. We will give our support if this consensus is established," he said adding that bringing the leftist thinking to power was the sole issue for them.