Striking response from TKP General Secretary Kemal Okuyan to the question 'Can the CHP come to power?'

Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) General Secretary Kemal Okuyan made evaluations on the "Komünist Bakış" program on soL TV.

Responding to questions from Gökhan Kazbek, Okuyan answered the following: "Where is the CHP heading? What is social democracy really? Does İmamoğlu, Kılıçdaroğlu, Özel, or Yavaş fit the CHP's mission better? What does the decision to have the MIT audit the CHP's overseas organizations mean? What does the Turkish left expect from the CHP? Can the CHP come to power?"

Emphasizing that the CHP has a special position and highlighting the importance of it being the founding party, Okuyan pointed out that the party of that period carried the characteristics of a bourgeois revolution in terms of its structure. Noting that the party was born into the revolution, was not a social democratic party, and did not fit into the left-right divide, Okuyan said, "It was a state party, it was the party of the established order. On one hand, steps were taken backwards. Then, with the left-wing movement that came roaring in '65, the CHP was made into a state that met the needs of the order."

Recalling Bülent Ecevit's definition of "center-left," Kemal Okuyan emphasized that they wanted to prevent the uncontrolled rise of the left in the mid-60s. Stating that the rhetoric of the Ecevit era was aimed at preventing the great excitement in society from getting out of control and that this was done with clearly anti-communist expressions, Okuyan said, "A social awakening was wanted to be channeled somewhere, and this was achieved. That awakening was blocked in the '77 elections. There was a demand for a change in the order."

'THE ESSENCE OF TRUE SOCIAL DEMOCRACY IS COUNTER-REVOLUTION'

Explaining that it should be questioned whether the country reached enlightenment during Ecevit's prime ministerships, Okuyan said, "The AKP has been in power for 22 years, and the most important party of today's order is still the CHP. Ecevit said, 'If we weren't here, this system would collapse.' If the CHP weren't here, capitalism would truly collapse. Let's let it collapse, why are we struggling?"

Pointing out that as social democracy does not represent a revolutionary path, international labor movements have abandoned parties with this name, Okuyan said that social democratic parties thus gradually became representatives of the order. Recalling the period when communists and social democrats diverged in Germany, he noted that the dismantling of capitalism by the working class was prevented by social democracy. Okuyan said, "In the 1920s, they strangled the German revolution. This is true social democracy; its essence is counter-revolution."

Underlining that social democracy has its signature on entering the NATO camp and in wars, the TKP General Secretary said, "In their history, there is the blood of the working class, revolutionaries, and those who died in wars."

'THE CHP HAS BEEN A LIFELINE FOR THE AKP EVERY TIME'

Stating that looking for a "true social democratic" party in Turkey is not a way out, Okuyan expressed that the reason for the existence of social democratic parties is anti-socialism. "Social democracy, which stands between the idea of revolution and the working class, is a structure that has no function other than deceiving the people and causes the far-right to strengthen. I cannot answer the question of what its good side is," he said.

Saying "The CHP complements the AKP," Okuyan stated that the CHP has supported the AKP at the most critical moments. Stating that society in the country is being stalled with the expectation that "we will handle this tomorrow" and with elections, Kemal Okuyan spoke as follows:

"The legitimacy of the AKP was being questioned from the moment it came to power. The CHP was afraid of this legitimacy concern and helped. Because a major crisis of legitimacy was at the door. The moment the AKP's credibility in society decreased, the CHP came to its aid.

Kılıçdaroğlu appeared in Yenikapı immediately after the 2016 Fethullahist coup attempt and said 'consensus.' Now he is angry at Özel because he said 'normalization.' In other words, the CHP has been a lifeline for the AKP every time. Their goal is for this system not to enter a crisis. They will do anything for this."

ÖZEL'S MIT STATEMENT: 'CLEARLY THEY ARE SCARED'

Pointing out that the idea of revolution and socialism continues to spread in the country, Okuyan noted that the CHP has right-wingized society and legitimized the right by right-wingizing itself. Pointing out that the CHP carries many right-wingers who are "finished" on its back, Kemal Okuyan emphasized that the "softening" actually started there. He said, "These policies are problematic and are pushing Turkey into darkness."

The TKP General Secretary also commented on Özgür Özel's decision to have the MIT audit the CHP's overseas organizations. Drawing attention to the fact that this statement was made after the meeting where the MIT "gave information," Okuyan said, "Özgür Özel is clearly scared. They are scared. What İbrahim Kalın told them has clearly scared them."

'THE CHP CANNOT BE THE LONG-TERM CARRIER OF THE SYSTEM'

Attributing the emergence of too many "figures" in the CHP to the excessive importance placed on local governments, and pointing out that there are large monetary relationships behind this, Kemal Okuyan said, "There are personal organizations whose differences we do not know. Everyone in the CHP is slowly forming their own media. This is a reflection of party-less, unprincipled politics."

TKP General Secretary Okuyan answered the question "Can the CHP come to power?" as follows:

"They tried to prepare it. But looking at it right now, the CHP cannot come to power. Of course, there could be an unforeseen development, but even if the CHP were to come to power, it would be temporary.

The CHP actually has no objection to exploitation, NATO, or the destruction of secularism. However, it cannot be the long-term carrier of the system. It is more functional in the opposition. Besides, they are very scattered. Fragmentation and backroom politics prevail. Moreover, a party that asks for help from the MIT for its overseas organizations cannot come to power. A political party does not fall into this situation."

Stating that the CHP brings improvements to the agenda within the current order, Okuyan reminded that "a share cannot be given to the working people without tightening the taps of capital."

'WE MUST ENSURE THAT THE WOMEN'S STRUGGLE DEVELOPS IN A HEALTHY DIRECTION'

Journalist and broadcaster Zeynel Lüle asked Kemal Okuyan how to fight against issues such as withdrawing from the Istanbul Convention and closing down daycare centers, and what measures could be taken.

Stating that violence against women is being legitimized, Okuyan said that the Istanbul Convention is not a solution on its own, but it should be defended because it closes important gaps.

Saying "Instead of daycare centers, religious sects should be closed down," Okuyan stated that there is already a daycare problem in Turkey. Arguing that all of these should be considered together, Kemal Okuyan said, "We must ensure that the women's struggle develops in a healthy direction. If society becomes one that seeks its rights, these problems will be solved. Before conventions, we must strengthen our minds and our organization so that the conventions can be useful."

News Source: 12punto