Didim Today

Turkey is entering campaign season, with prospective deputies emerging and many public officials handing in their resignations as required by Turkish law to be able to run for Parliament. It is hoped that the political parties that have begun with their campaign promises will be able to fulfill them in the event of their coming to power and that the Parliament to be established after the elections will represent all colors of Turkey.

In the wake of a rush of resignations by public officials from the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) to run for Parliament, Sabah’s Emre Aköz says there is no doubt the party needs politicians who know state affairs very well and who will immediately notice the games played in Turkish politics. “This is an undeniable fact,” says Aköz, adding that there is a need to take a look at the issue from the perspective of the public.

He thinks Turkish society is no longer simply a depot of votes but it is now able to voice its demands to politicians. “When one mentioned the demands of the public in the past, this would bring to mind things like unemployment, poverty and demands for infrastructure. They are still important, but there is a great increase in voicing demands with regard to freedoms and equality in ethnic and religious identity,” says Aköz.

He suggests that all segments of society should be represented in the Parliament to be formed following the general elections in June. “There should be Roma musician Ayhan Küçükboyacı, who is known as ‘Balık Ayhan,’ and there should also be people like Osman Can, a former rapporteur of the Constitutional Court,” says Aköz.

Zaman’s Mustafa Ünal addresses the political parties’ focus on the 100th year of the Turkish Republic that will be marked in 2023 and their election promises in relation to that. “Nationalist Movement Party [MHP] leader Devlet Bahçeli said his party aims to make Turkey a regional leader and a superpower by 2023.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said his party would appear before the public with a vision for 2023, leaving the details of this vision to the party’s election manifesto. And the Republican People’s Party [CHP] said his party will place Turkey among the 10th largest economies,” says Ünal.

He thinks it is good for the parties to have a 100th anniversary perspective; however, he warns that if these statements are not put into action, they will be nothing more than a slogan. “It is for sure that the focus on the 100th anniversary will be frequently heard in the June 12 elections,” says Ünal. F Disli Zibak from Todays Zaman