Status report on normalization...

The political agenda does not take a break for the holiday. Harsh statements made on the eve of the holiday, parties that do not visit one another, and sharp words spoken amidst the winds of normalization are coming one after another. Turkey's accustomed harsh political agenda seems worth a status assessment. 

We can say that the Republican People's Party (CHP) is the only party that meets and exchanges holiday greetings with all parties except HÜDAPAR, or rather, the only one that is able to do so. Considering that parties are generally at odds with the structures they emerged from, this situation shows that the CHP still carries the identity and responsibility of being the founding party. For instance, in a climate where the DEVA, Future (Gelecek), and Felicity (Saadet) parties do not meet with the AK Party, or the MHP does not meet with the IYI Party, the Republican People's Party is the only party capable of meeting with the Homeland (Memleket) Party, which emerged from within its own ranks (which is an indicator of good mutual relations). This picture is not new, of course. Every holiday, the CHP reveals once again that it maintains its status as the umbrella, founding party.

Even the holiday meetings reveal that the CHP is not the subject of polarization. Now, if we come to our main agenda, the normalization talks…

Following the meeting held at the CHP Headquarters between President Erdoğan and CHP Chairman Özel, MHP Chairman Bahçeli published a statement titled "Political Operations Organized Against the Nationalist Movement Party with Claims of Normalization and Softening in Turkish Politics." If we add to this statement the simultaneous harsh attitudes toward opposition journalists and television channels, we can easily say that the People's Alliance (Cumhur İttifakı) partner is not approaching the normalization process with moderation. In fact, MHP's Büyükataman has stated: "The normalization theater is ostensibly against the MHP, but in the background, it is an operation against Turkey," making it clear that the MHP now views the normalization process as an operation against themselves and even against Turkey. Of course, in the face of these accusations, historic responses from the CHP, first from Party Spokesperson Deniz Yücel and then from Deputy Chairman Ensar Aytekin, were not delayed. 

This new situation makes it necessary for the CHP to take a step back and re-evaluate how long these talks can continue in this climate and to what extent this will contribute positively to the social opposition. In other words, while talks continue with its alliance partner, the AK Party, it is open to debate whether the accusations directed at the CHP by its other partner are normal. Of course, we can evaluate all the words said to the CHP in the vein of "I am saying this to my daughter so that my daughter-in-law may understand." As CHP Chairman Özel also said, the alliance partners actually prefer to send messages to each other through the CHP.

If we evaluate the final point reached as of June 2024 in the normalization talks that began after the local elections; although the internal conflicts and tensions of the People's Alliance continue, it maintains its existence and unity. We should not be surprised by this at all, because this alliance is not just an alliance established to govern. At the same time, we can call it a structure that has been sealed and ossified by the Turkish-style presidential system to determine Turkey's political direction following the July 15 coup attempt. In this context, whether the People's Alliance continues or not is actually not the CHP's concern. Since there is no intention for an alliance or coalition with the AK Party, and because it is also against a system where all powers are gathered in one hand, this situation does not affect or concern the CHP.

So, what will be the attitude of the Republican People's Party in this new situation?

Considering that the AK Party's main issue is a new constitution, it is now much more debatable to what extent the Republican People's Party can meet the public's agenda and expectations from these talks, and to what extent the People's Alliance can carry these talks and this tension. Furthermore, it is a reality that the CHP will not adopt an approach of "the AK Party is good, but its circle is bad." As the founding party, the CHP can of course meet with all parties. However, in such a tense political atmosphere, it would be beneficial to re-evaluate normalization, its framework, and the importance attributed to it.