Interview with Friedrich Naumann Foundation Istanbul rep

The telephones at the Friedrich Nauman Foundation’s Istanbul office have not stopped ringing since the German elections as many people, among them members of the press, are seeking more information about the Free Democratic Party, or FDP, which emerged as the likely partner of the new coalition government.

“I cannot and do not speak for the party,” said Joerg Dehnert, who first felt the need to make a clarification in an interview with the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review. “Our foundation is not part of the party. We are independent. We have neither financial ties nor a hierarchical relationship with the party. But of course we belong to the same family.”

All the political parties in Germany represented in the parliament have the right to found a foundation representing their philosophy. By law the political party and its respective think tank have to be independent of each other. “Our main objective is civic education and strengthening civil society. We represent liberalism in Germany and abroad. It is our aim that people vote for the party, but we don’t promote the party,” said Dehnert.

At the same time, he did not hide his satisfaction with the election results, emphasizing that the FDP received the best result ever in its history. Yet he is surprised by some comments that suggested that the ascent of the FDP is bad news for Turkey’s accession to the European Union, as well as for migration issues.

“Turkey is not the most important objective in foreign policy. Germany’s foreign policy is based on a strategic view. Normally it does not change from one government to the other,” he said. Yet he did recall that whenever there has been a major shift in German foreign policy, the FDP played an important role, like in 1969 when they joined a coalition with the Social Democrats to overturn the former Eastern Europe policy of the Christian Democratic governments based on isolating the communist regime of East Germany. The Social Democrats and the FDP initiated the new “East Policy,” based on trying to achieve more freedom for East Germans through collaboration.

Dehnert predicted that “only a few things will change” in the new coalition government’s foreign policy. “The Free Democrats generally backed the foreign policy of the grand coalition,” he said. On Turkey’s bid to join the European Union, Dehnert was not ambiguous at all. “For the liberals, Turkey belongs to Europe,” he said, adding that the FDP cannot ignore Europe’s fifth largest economy while it promotes globalization. The rule of law is another value upheld by the liberals, thus one should stick to the principle of pacta sunt servanda, a Latin expression meaning, “promises must be kept.”

“The privileged partnership does not exist for the liberals,” he said. “The FDP is oriented toward membership.”

Turkey’s entry into the EU is in the interest of both the EU and Turkey, said Dehnert. “Political leaders should do more to promote this principle. But I don’t see this.”

"Social Democrats's policy on Turkey a myth"

When asked about the perception that the FDP is seen to be less supportive of Turkey’s European ambitions than the Social Democrats, Dehnert said the Social Democrat policy toward Turkey is a myth. “The FDP is less emotional about the issue and more fact oriented,” he said adding that Turkey has to fulfill membership criteria. He also said the policy of the FDP might create a problem for Turkey. “The government declared 2008 the year of EU reform. But nothing happened. The EU policy was declared to be priority number one for the year 2009. Yet not much was done.”

The FDP will be more careful in observing the reform process in Turkey, according to Dehnert. “Turkey will definitely be asked what major changes and reforms were made, instead of just cosmetic changes like the amendment to Article 302 of the Turkish penal code on freedom of expression.”

The German expert warned that there is a perception that Turkey is drifting away from the EU. “How many times have Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu gone to Brussels?” he said emphasizing that both went to Iran, Syria and other Middle Eastern countries many times. “It is ok to go to these countries. But Turkey should consult more with the EU. I am not saying that it should ask for permission. But when the leader of my country goes to Washington for instance, he or she consults with London, Paris and Rome. This is something missing with Turkey,” he said. “I don’t know whether Turkey is drifting away from the EU or not, but there certainly is such a perception and it is exploited by Turkey’s opponents. The Turkish government should do more to prove that this perception does not reflect the truth.”

Doğan group tax fine

The Ergenekon case, as well as the tax fines imposed on the Doğan Media Group, will also come under more serious scrutiny by Free Democrats according to Dehnert, who said that the rule of law and freedom of expression are areas that are nonnegotiable for the liberals. “I do not know about the facts of the Doğan case. But everybody deserves to be treated equally under the law. If the Doğan group has committed a crime, this should be proven and the group should be punished accordingly. But there is a perception that the tax fines are misused as a political campaign against the opponents of the government or those who reflect a different opinion than that of the government. There is also the perception that the government sent signals to other opponents that tax fines can be used against them as well.”

Migration issues

Dehnert complained about misconceptions among some Turks of the liberals’ policies on the immigration issue. “Dual citizenship was promoted by the Free Democrats. Liberals strongly believe in minority rights. It is one of the highest values. The party cannot have anything against minorities,” he said.

Germany urgently needs a fair immigration law said Dehnert, recalling that this is a longtime liberal request. “The FDP is closer to the Greens on this issue,” he said.

“Whether we like it or not, Germany is an immigration country. I am happy with the immigrants that came to Germany. They have enriched our country,” he said.

On globalization and hospitality to foreigners, Dehnert said the German economic and political system is more open but the people are not. “The system is open and ready for globalization but the people are not; they are narrow-minded, often anxious of foreigners. And in Turkey it is exactly the opposite, people are friendly and open to foreigners but the system is not open to them,” said Dehnert, who has been living in Turkey since December 2006.

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Analysis of the election results

The fact that the Social Democrats earned their worst result while the Christian Democrats netted the party’s second-worst outcome is striking, according to Dehnert, who said that the era of the “people’s party” – a party that attempts to address all segments of society – might be at an end.

He is ashamed of the fact that Germany experienced its lowest turnout in these elections. “As a liberal, for me the right to vote is the highest value of democracy,” he said.

He also found it frustrating that the Communists got more votes than the Greens. “For me, the Greens represent a democratic party with democratic character. I don’t agree with their policies but I accept it,” he said. While he accepts the legitimacy of the Communist Party as well as the right of people to vote for them, he did not hide his distain: “They are the successor of the former Communist party which caused a lot of pain to people.”

The FDP's success is based on its reliability, according to Dehnert. "There is no difference between what they say and what they do," he said. Germans voten mainly on the basis of demostic issue and especially on the economic issues, said Dehnert. Recalling that the FDP have been in the opposition nearly for a decade, Dehnert said that it could hot have been held responsible for the economic crisis. Germans trusted more the FDP to renew the economy.

Turkey or Turkish EU bid was not a major isssue during elections, he said. During the European Parliament elections of last summer, political parties that have based part of their campaign on Turkey have lost more votes compared to the political parties who are supportive of turkey's case. Due to that reason, Turkey was not a major issue of debate in the general elections. 

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Friedrich Naumann Foundation

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty, or FNF, is an independent, nonprofit, nongovernmental organization. It is committed to promoting freedom as the most important and essential element of liberalism, according to information provided on the Foundation’s Web site.

The Foundation has been present in Turkey since 1991. The office was moved from Ankara to Istanbul in 2002.

“Turkey is of special geo-strategic importance for NATO, Europe and Germany because of her geographic position as an energy transmission country and also her ties with the Caucasus. Furthermore, following Romania's and Bulgaria's accession to the EU, Turkey has become an immediate geographical neighbor of the Union – apart from being a candidate for full membership. 

“Therefore, the Foundation’s work and objectives regarding the promotion of liberal principles and democracy have acquired particular relevance and importance,” reads the Web site.

The FNF’s activities in Turkey aim to promote the following elements of liberalism: 

· Freedom and Democracy: The separation of powers is a key prerequisite for a liberal democracy. It acts as a protective mechanism and prevents the misuse and the concentration of power in the hands of a few.

· Human Rights and the Rule of Law: Human rights and the rule of law are important for all citizens; they enable a life in safety, equal opportunities and fair treatment regardless of wealth, race, gender or social status.

· Market Economy and Competition: Free and open markets based on basic rules and with limited state intervention guarantee the creation of wealth and prosperity for the citizens. Privatization and competition are a bulwark against monopolies and secure fair trade.

Apart from promoting liberal principles, the Foundation conducts and facilitates the exchange and transfer of knowledge between Germany, Europe and Turkey. FNF also organizes the Caucasus dialogue, with an emphasis on the dialogue between Turkey and Armenia.