Parliament for the first time came to think about Ahmet Türk

In politics it’s always like that.

Those who want to cover up the issue will succeed to a certain extent. But no matter how hard they try in the end it will surface.

And those who want to solve the problem first start by discussing the issue.

If a society started to discuss a subject it means we are getting somewhere. For, everything that nobody dares to talk about during discussions becomes part of your daily life.

For example, once it was a crime to say, “Honorable Öcalan.” People were tried for that.

What happened next?

Discussions became so widespread that now everybody says Honorable and Honorable became casual.

Last week in meetings at the Parliament words were spoken that indicated that the Kurdish initiative has progressed much. It was understood that this was not to be stopped anymore. This meeting was a historic one. With its content and broad discussions regarding the Kurdish issue the meeting was a turning point

I was not able to write about this session. Even though a few days passed since, I wanted to make an analysis of the discussion.

Ahmet Türk gave one of his most brilliant speeches

It was not very catchy but DTP leader Ahmet Türk gave one of his most sensitive, calm and brisk speeches loaded with never-before-heard reality I have ever witnessed before. He confronted us with the past and made us feel ashamed when he talked about how we treated our Kurdish citizens. And he did it without exaggeration. He calibrated.

When he said, “Please put yourselves in our place,” he reflected his most sincere feelings.

The most important aspect of the speech was the part where he said that the Kurdish issue is in fact a Turkish issue. He approached the subject from Turkey’s perspective. He looked at it from the Turkish perspective, not the Kurdish.

Türk, for the first time under the roof of the Parliament, said the PKK is a result of ill treatment of Kurdish citizens in public. He openly revealed this reality that everybody knows but ignores.

Ahmet Türk couldn’t help but touch on the weakness of steps taken so far. But nevertheless he contended himself by saying he left the door open to see what will come next. He criticized the government but did not break bridges. But his strongest criticism, which was in fact justified, he directed toward the CHP.

In this respect Türk was the star of the session.

Prime Minister obligated himself strongly

The prime minister‘s speech was full of signs of how he adopted the Kurdish initiative. He might have had to take on such an attitude in view of brisk criticism from the opposition. Sentences he used in his speech would have put prosecutors into action five or six years ago.

Erdoğan while assuring that his administration will stand behind this process, tried to be careful not to appear cooperative with the DTP but still keep in touch. He only applauded Ahmet Türk out of all the opposition parties.

Speeches in Parliament once more showed how difficult a job the administration does. Despite that it was interesting to see how strong the AKP stood in respect to this subject. To tell the truth, I did not expect the prime minister and the AKP to carry this subject this far. Now we know how right a decision it was to appoint Atalay as the coordinator.

I can’t help but say this much.

Initiative packages suggested so far are in my eyes still insufficient. If no real steps are taken it means we’ll only try in vain.

Baykal made clip art but it was brilliant

Now it’s for sure that Deniz Baykal is not only CHP’s preacher but the preacher of Turkish politics. There can’t be a better one-hour speech without reading but just looking at notes in front of him. Oh my God, he seemed so in control, so self-confident and brilliant on the platform that you can’t help but watch him in admiration. It is not important what he says. As a matter of fact, he seems to have made clip art using his former brilliant speeches. There was nothing new to it.

Baykal has a difficult job. For, in truth, he wants the Kurdish issue to be solved as bad as the 

AKP does. And CHP’s former report on the Kurdish issue is full of even braver steps than the ones the AKP takes. But only not to appear in cooperation with the AKP it opposes them. That is why it did not oppose the core of the issue as the MHP did. It contended itself with only opposing the means and general attitude used by the AKP. He tried to fix the deep wounds Onur Öymen caused the other day with the Dersim Massacre sample and referred to what happened in the past, in order to appease the Kurds.

He kept his distance from the MHP and tried not to appear cooperative with the AKP when opposing tactfully.

The CHP knows that it will one day have to solve this issue either during its own administration term or support the AKP. There is no way to escape such a finale.

It is easier for the MHP

Whoever wrote Devlet Bahçeli’s speech, especially the entry part, did a good job. We listened to a successful speech full of impressive sentences. Compared to former ones, we noticed that Bahçeli read without hesitation. It appears he rehearsed.  Even if it was not dramatic or as impressive as Baykal’s speech, Bahçeli elaborated on his party’s politics. He expressed their desire that Turkishness comes before anything else.

I might summarize as follows:

“Turkey belongs to Turks… a global game is being played. The U.S. and Europe want to split us and the AKP asks for it… the AKP with its attitude commits a crime against the Constitution… we oppose any step in this direction…”

From this point of view it is easy for the MHP to continue its stroke. It does not need to make fine politics. When you oppose each step you attract attention more easily.

During its speech in Parliament the MHP knew how to bewitch the nationalistic voters. From this point of view the CHP has a tough job. Thus, if the initiative does not work out, it means votes opposing it will go to the MHP in upcoming elections.