Continuity in politics and the CHP

“Continuity”... Who wouldn't want to be continuous and lasting in politics…

In every field, it is actually the desired, targeted, and common goal. Being lasting is practically the shared dream of every human being, company, and institution…

Companies and political parties alike want to be continuous and seek ways to achieve this. Scientific research points to the 3E principle for continuity in businesses: Economy, Ecology, and Ethics... When you apply these principles in a healthy way, you have achieved the first stage toward being continuous, that is, being lasting.

That is the case for businesses, but what about in politics?

Political science has slowly begun to open its doors to theories from different disciplines. Not just political science, but all fields of science are in cooperation with one another through interdisciplinary studies... 

In fact, these developments are a reflection of science showing that we cannot draw the boundaries of life with sharp lines... When you look at Turkish political history, we can see that the biggest problem is actually continuity. Many parties have been opened periodically, but these parties, which drew their strength from their leaders, disappeared with the departure of those leaders. 

For example; the DYP that existed with Demirel, the ANAP that existed with Özal, the DSP that existed with Ecevit, and the Refah Party that existed with Erbakan... Of course, all these politicians are names who left their mark on our political history, became lasting, and found a place in our memories... But what about their parties?

The most recent and clear example of this is the AKP, which exists with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The strong bond these parties have with their leaders rather than their principles has caused, and will cause, their end one day, despite the very high votes they receive. 

Of course, the Republican People's Party (CHP) should be kept separate from these... Built on solid principles by its founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the CHP has drawn its strength not from its leaders, but from its commitment to its principles and from the people. For this reason, even though it has not been able to hold the power of government for years, it has maintained its existence and has been able to be continuous. 

So how will politicians be "lasting"?

Politicians who derive their power from their office will take their place in the dusty pages of history as long as they cannot fully internalize how fleeting offices are and cannot establish a throne in the hearts of the people. Especially those who pursue a ruthless policy as if overturning all human values with the power of that office, even if they make a lot of noise and seem successful that day, they will be doomed to be forgotten in the long run.

Rack your brains for a moment... Where are the most pompous ministers, deputies, and wealthy people of the Özal era today? How many of these politicians, whose names were written in big letters on the headlines in those days, do you remember with love and longing today? 

Most of those we remember with longing are populist, ethical, and humanist names who engage in politics to serve the people… 

For how many names has the ideal of becoming a “Legendary President” or “Legendary Minister,” which is the dream of every politician, been possible? Of course, continuity should not be perceived as sitting in a seat for 30 years... It would be more accurate to say that being lasting means offering value to society and providing continuous benefit with the value offered. In other words, making a lasting contribution to development...

Being continuous, being lasting, and taking a place in history with good deeds and memories is perhaps not very easy... There is certainly no definitive recipe... But it is not impossible either...

The Republican People's Party is one of the few deep-rooted parties in the world. The CHP, which derives its existence from the Kuva-yı Milliye, has gone through very difficult days in various periods of history but has managed to survive. Today, it has the power to overcome all kinds of pressure, operations, and the danger of disintegration it faces with the revolutionary spirit in its roots. As long as it can correctly use its qualified human resources, its cadres who have a solid ideological background and are wholeheartedly committed to Atatürk and the Republic. As long as it can unite in a common goal and ideal.

The fundamental thing is to touch, influence, and integrate with the “human,” with the “people”…

The essential thing is not power, office, money, or government… 

The essential thing is perhaps to be able to be a Mustafa Kemal… 

Not with his name or his physical presence; but with his principles, his revolutions, his works, his humanism, and his morality…