Early election debates in AKP corridors: Two plans emerge

The 'early election' debates that began following the March 31 Local Elections continue.

While CHP Chairman Özgür Özel makes his 'if there is no livelihood, there is an election' call at every program where he meets with citizens, what is being discussed in AKP corridors regarding an early election has emerged.

Writing that ideas are being generated for possible early elections within the AKP, Gazete Pencere columnist Nuray Babacan stated, “As the Turkish Grand National Assembly works day and night as it does at the end of every term, and AKP politicians engage in long hours of conversation, clever ideas have begun to emerge regarding potential future political developments.”

According to Nuray Babacan, who conveyed that the current priority of party sources is the economy, the aides assessed, “Our priority right now is the economy. We are working to get the economy on track. When the time and place come, the issue of an election date will be evaluated. However, renewing the elections at the beginning of 2027 is a subject of evaluation. It could be discussed to move the elections, which are normally scheduled for May 2028, forward by at most 1 year.”

Stating that party aides remind that a decision by the parliament to renew the elections is necessary for the president's third candidacy, Nuray Babacan shared the following details:

"AKP members are producing possible plans while ignoring potential developments in the world, the country, or the opposition. For example, if contact were made with the opposition to return to the parliamentary system and this were put forward as a precondition, who could say no? In such a formation, the AKP could emerge as the advantageous major party, and a 'necessity' like an alliance partnership could also disappear…

Another clever idea is to revise the Presidential Government System to ensure the president is elected with 40 plus 1 instead of 50 plus 1. Since both of these plans would require a constitutional amendment, they seem like a difficult, multi-component dream. The MHP factor must not be forgotten."

Nuray Babacan’s article titled ‘Should we return to the parliamentary system? How can the AKP be saved?’ is as follows:

As the Turkish Grand National Assembly works day and night as it does at the end of every term, and AKP politicians engage in long hours of conversation, clever ideas have begun to emerge regarding potential future political developments! For example, “What should be done to make the ruling AKP party advantageous in the event of an early election?”… What would happen if a return to the parliamentary system were offered to the opposition as a proposal to be able to govern alone?

OFFICIAL STANCE IS DIFFERENT

First of all, let us state this; an early election will not be made an agenda item as official party policy. They will not be part of the policy of the CHP or any opposition party to bring an early election to the agenda. Statements that would cause the subject to remain on the agenda will not be made.

Party aides remind that a decision by the parliament to renew the elections is necessary for the president's third candidacy. However, they state that it is still too early for debates on this matter, and therefore they will not discuss the issue in public for now.

THE ECONOMY IS SCARY

Naturally, they know that there are problems that must be overcome to emerge advantageously from any election. Party sources say, “Our priority right now is the economy. We are working to get the economy on track. When the time and place come, the issue of an election date will be evaluated. However, renewing the elections at the beginning of 2027 is a subject of evaluation. It could be discussed to move the elections, which are normally scheduled for May 2028, forward by at most 1 year.”

MINDS ARE DIFFERENT

Of course, this official view does not prevent the ways of emerging advantageously from elections from being discussed in the corridors. AKP members are producing possible plans while ignoring potential developments in the world, the country, or the opposition. For example, if contact were made with the opposition to return to the parliamentary system and this were put forward as a precondition, who could say no? In such a formation, the AKP could emerge as the advantageous major party, and a 'necessity' like an alliance partnership could also disappear…

EVERYTHING IS IN THE CONVERSATIONS

Another clever idea is to revise the Presidential Government System to ensure the president is elected with 40 plus 1 instead of 50 plus 1. Since both of these plans would require a constitutional amendment, they seem like a difficult, multi-component dream. The MHP factor must not be forgotten.

News Source: 12punto