World Bank presidents should be chosen from a range of countries where first-rate candidates exist such as United Nations Development Programme Chief Kemal Dervi rather than solely from the United States, said the bank's former chief economist Joseph Stiglitz. Stiglitz, who was sharply critical of the sister institution of the bank, the IMF, during his tenure at the bank wrote in Monday's Financial Times that the current president Paul Wolfowitz should quit. Stiglitz also referred to Brazil's former central bank chief Arminio Fraga as a possible replacement for Wolfowitz.

Prior to his appointment with UNDP, Mr. Dervi was a member of the Turkish Parliament from the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) representing Istanbul from November 2002 to June 2005.

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[07] From the Turkish press on political developments in Turkey

In an article entitled "Businessmen's reactions to constitutional amendments," HURRIYET columnist Erdal Saglam points out that Turkish businessmen and industrialists are opposed to a series of constitutional amendments tabled by the ruling Justice and Development Party, (AKP), in the Turkish Grand National Assembly, (TBMM). Noting that the AKP is also criticized by different segments of society for maintaining its irreconcilable stance, Saglam comments: "It is not possible to understand why AKP leadership insists on those amendments. Can they not see that its current policy overshadows its achievements in the economic field; people think that the AKP's performance would not be found satisfactory if it comes into power again; and that it is losing voter support especially from intellectuals in cities?"

In an article entitled "Before social fault lines move," MILLIYET columnist Fikret Bila writes that the constitutional amendments actually reflect the AKP's desire to settle scores after being prevented from electing the new president in the TBMM. Pointing out that the AKP has taken an uncompromising stance about the proposed amendments, Bila comments: "It is clear that proposed amendments are problematic from the legal standpoint and that they will fuel political tension." Bila concludes by saying that some contentious articles of the Constitution should be amended after reaching a consensus among all political parties to be represented in the TBMM after the forthcoming general election.

In an article entitled "How could the CHP-DSP alliance come into power?" HURRIYET columnist Mehmet Yilmaz says that the proposed alliance between the Republican People's Party, (CHP), and the Democratic Left Party, (DSP), would not be sufficient to ensure them to increase their votes in the upcoming general election although it could create a center of gravity for some voters. Yilmaz notes that both parties need to nominate new candidates for Parliament and devise a new program in order to ensure that their alliance will pave the way for an election victory. Yilmaz also cautions that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's insistence on the proposed constitutional amendments could be detrimental to the current regime and calls on the opposition parties to thwart his plan.

In a report entitled "DSP will nominate candidates in the Black Sea while CHP candidates will run for Parliament in the Aegean" HURRIYET writes that, the DSP and CHP agreed to accord priority to DSP's candidates who will run for Parliament in various cities in the Black Sea region while the CHP's candidates will be atop their joint lists of candidates in other cities.

In an article entitled "What will the MHP do in the upcoming election?" Sabah columnist Mahmut Ovur quotes Gurcan Dagdas, adviser to Nationalist Action Party, (MHP), leader Devlet Bahceli, as saying that the MHP will emerge as the main party in the center after the general election. He also predicts that the AKP, CHP, and the MHP will share most of the seats in the TBMM.

In an article entitled "A man coming under attack," HURRIYET columnist Yalcin Dogan argues that various non-governmental organizations have agreed to stage the last rally ahead of the upcoming general election in front of the CHP's headquarters in a bid to force its leader to resign because left-wing voters regard him as the only obstacle to a possible merger of left-wing parties. Dogan notes that many voters are determined not to vote for the CHP if Baykal does not step down before the general election.

In an article entitled "Marching with blue or orange flags", YENI SAFAK columnist Ibrahim Karagul warns that "the atmosphere of calm" created by the removal of the military "memorandum" from the General Staff's website, Abdullah Gul's withdrawal of his presidential candidacy, and the prevailing "general election mood" does not mean that Turkey has weathered the latest "crisis." He claims that there is a "serious possibility" that the continuation of the recent anti-AKP rallies during the election process will provoke "millions" of people annoyed by these rallies into staging counter demonstrations, leading to clashes between those who align themselves with "secularism, nationalism, localism, anti-Westernism, and xenophobia" and those who believe in "globalization, integration with the West, liberalism, and democracy" and to the eventual partition of Turkey along ethnic lines.

In an article entitled "The light at the end of the tunnel", YENI SAFAK columnist Fehmi Koru asserts that the Turkish society is going through a process of polarization whose manifestations include a disappearance of "intermediate colors" and a pressure to choose between two political parties in the next elections. He claims that sacrifices are needed from both parties if the existing tensions are not to be translated into a "dangerous conflict," in the words of main opposition leader Deniz Baykal, adding that the onus is on Baykal and the Republican People's Party, (CHP), to try to obstruct a possible escalation of the domestic situation.

In an article entitled "Heed this warning", VAKIT columnist Serdar Arseven draws attention to Felicity Party, (SP), leader Recai Kutan's warning of a "major danger" in the form of efforts to encourage "bipolar politics" and create "two different societies" in Turkey. Arseven asserts that public faith in politics as a means of providing solutions and addressing demands for rights and freedoms and in the validity of legal mechanisms is fast eroding dangerously in the wake of the recent developments. He cautions that the existing schisms will deepen if politics continues to fail to be an answer to the challenges facing Turkey, leaving the country vulnerable to provocations.

In an article entitled "BBP and AKP into parliament together", VAKIT columnist Huseyin Ozturk calls on the AKP to look into forming an election alliance with the Grand Unity Party, (BBP), and asserts that the grassroots of both parties would approve of such a move.

In an article entitled "Alliance on the left", ZAMAN columnist Mumtazer Turkone asserts that "the invisible hand of the State Institutions Party" [the Establishment] is behind the recent endeavors to forge alliances on the Right and the Left and that those conducting these efforts are banking on the scenario of a CHP-DYP-MHP [Nationalist Action Party] coalition" to obstruct the AKP's possible re-election into office in the next elections. In explaining why this plan is a "miscalculation," Turkone argues that the AKP retains the "card of stability" against the prospect of an inefficient coalition government.

In an article entitled "Would the AKP be closed down? Are you saying, 'What Next?'", ZAMAN columnist A. Turan Alkan criticizes the Constitutional Court ruling on 1 May 2007 upholding the CHP's argument of a 367 quorum requirement for the parliamentary voting for the presidential election as a decision that has created major legal uncertainties making it hard for even the most celebrated jurists in the country to "see two days ahead" and impossible for anyone to say when and how the next president will be elected. Alkan also calls attention to "rumors circulating among the people these days" that those who went out of their way to make certain articles in the Constitution inoperable in the presidential election process might well take steps to close down the ruling AKP.

In an article entitled "Denouncement," TODAY´S ZAMAN columnist Lale Sariibrahimoglu responds to "e-mails I received contain[ing] criticism amount[ing] to a denouncement of my article" entitled "Turkish Military Involvement in Politics Endangers the Military Itself," in which she cited a statement posted at www.harbiyeli.net as a possible indication of disagreements within the military over the recent General Staff statement.

In an article entitled "Turkey's True Divide," TODAY´S ZAMAN columnist Suat Kiniklioglu argues that "secularism and religion have become tools in what essentially is a power struggle [in Turkey] between those who are pro-establishment and those who want an open and normal democracy."

In an article entitled "The United States' approach to the elections in Turkey", MILLI GAZETE columnist Suleyman Arif Emre argues that Washington is trying to bring to power a government in Turkey, either in the form of a coalition or single-party rule, that would be willing to support the Broader Middle East Project in place of the ruling AKP, which, he claims, has lost too much of its popularity in US eyes to serve that purpose any more. Emre argues that the US administration might even want the "memorandum crisis" to pave the way for a "post-modern coup" like the 28 February process if it feels that this will be in US interests.

Finally in a commentary entitled "What would happen in the elections?", BUGUN newspaper columnist Hakan Aygun predicts the following distribution of votes in the next general election: the AKP, 28-36 percent, the CHP 19-27 percent, the DP, 15-30 percent, and the MHP, 8-13 percent. He claims that if four parties win seats in Parliament, the following coalition formulas will become feasible in descending order of probability: CHP-DP-MHP, 70 percent, AKP-DP, 50 percent, CHP-MHP, 15 percent.

[08] How the Turkish press covered the results of the presidential elections in France

In an article entitled "The outcome of the election in France and EU membership process," HURRIYET columnist Ilter Turkmen writes that Turkey should pursue a "benign neglect" policy toward French President-elect Nicolas Sarkozy and not make attempts over the short term to persuade him to support Turkey's accession to the EU which he strongly opposes. He comments: "It should be borne in mind that Sarkozy pursues a pro-Atlantic policy and has close ties with the United States. He is also supported by French businessmen. We should try to influence him indirectly."

In an article entitled "Why does Sarkozy behave that way?" MILLIYET columnist Sami Kohen cautions that Sarkozy may attempt to derail accession talks between Turkey and the EU in line with his election promises. Pointing out that many European countries would oppose such moves because they could create serious rifts within the EU and that large French companies and the opposition in France would also be bothered by such attitudes, Kohen comments: "Could those factors be sufficient to dissuade the new President and force him to change his policies? I have doubts. Nobody should expect Sarkozy to change over the short term."

In an editorial entitled "Is it the end of a dream?" SABAH columnist Erdal Safak argues that Sarkozy is the most fervent opponent of Turkey's accession to the EU among all French presidents and predicts that he will attempt to block the accession talks by preventing Turkish and EU delegations from opening and discussing different chapters. Safak also points out that Turkey will have lost three staunch allies after the change of leaders in the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.

In an article entitled "Is this Sharia?" REFERANS columnist Cengiz Candar says that Turkey should keep its "democratic horizons" open and revive its reform process as part of its goal to join the EU taking account of Sarkozy's election and the fact that the United States is abandoning its neutral stance following the General Staff's ultimatum to the government. He concludes by saying that Turkey will not face a threat stemming from a plan to establish a regime based on sharia if it continues to make determined efforts to join the EU.

In an article entitled "A turning point in relations with France and EU: President Sarkozy," TURKISH DAILY NEWS columnist Cengiz Aktar says that French-Turkish relations will possibly undergo a radical change if Sarkozy's party wins a comfortable majority in the parliamentary elections in June, and if he implements fully his campaign promises.

In an article entitled "Just what we needed", VAKIT columnist Abdurrahman Dilipak predicts problems in relations with France over the Armenian genocide issue as well as in the EU accession process in the wake of Sarkozy's election as the new French president. He also claims that what appears to be the "neo-nationalist Kemalist wing's defiance of the US and the West" in the recent rallies is actually a manifestation of this section's "envy" and "deep anger" at Washington's partnership with "moderate Islamists" in Turkey.

EG/

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article