Gözde AKBEN
The talks that the UBP will begin today to form a coalition have also prompted claims that they are for show and that the UBP has in fact already determined its course of action. Senior officials from political parties who answered Cem Kar’s questions on the Öğlen Ajansı program broadcast on Ada TV shared their views ahead of the visits.
VAROĞLU: WE THINK THEY HAVE ENOUGH NUMBERS TDP Secretary General Esat Varoğlu said that the UBP had reached a sufficient number of seats together with the MPs who had left the DP, and that the UBP would hold the talks to strengthen its position. Varoğlu said: “In our view, the UBP currently has enough numbers. The two MPs who left the DP had announced that they were UBP members and would return to the fold. There was a backlash among the UBP grassroots over this, and they waited for a while to reduce that backlash. The visits are starting, but I don’t want to prejudge what direction they are taking. Let them come and talk with us; let’s see what this is about. But in our view, they have enough numbers. I think the UBP wants to use us to strengthen its position, but, as I said, I don’t want to prejudge things. Let them come and let’s talk; then we’ll understand what’s going on,” he said.
ERK: THEY’RE PLAYING TO THE GALLERIES
CTP-BG Secretary General Kutlay Erk described the UBP’s visits to parties to hold coalition talks as one of the finest gestures in a democratic tradition, but claimed that the UBP had already determined its plan of action and that the visits would therefore be for show. Erk said: “Our position on this has been clear from the outset, and we have no intention of entering into a coalition with the UBP. However, the visits are a fine gesture as part of a democratic tradition. In any case, we have ideas we can share about what is needed for a new government. They may have things they want to share with us, so these visits are important and are part of democratic maturity. But, overall, the search for new government partners is a bit of playing to the galleries. The situation is clear: a parliamentary majority will be secured by giving posts to those who resigned from their party. For that reason, the visit will be for show,” he said.
ÇAKICI: WE WON’T BARGAIN
TDP Chairman Mehmet Çakıcı said the UBP first needed to determine what steps it would take regarding the independent MPs, and, stressing that their position on this was clear, said they would not engage in bargaining. Çakıcı said: “The UBP needs to clarify its relationship with the independent MPs, who have now emerged as something like an MPs’ marketplace. First, this needs to be brought before the public. The TDP’s position on this is very clear. The TDP has always had its own position and principles. Accordingly, the TDP will not take part in bargaining or in a marketplace. Our concern is not the problems of the party or individuals. Society has very serious problems. If we can contribute to addressing them, we will be glad,” he said.
DÜRÜST: ABSOLUTELY NOT FOR SHOW
Tourism, Environment and Culture Minister Kemal Dürüst said that the UBP’s visits would be held in order to reach consensus, and that he therefore expected political parties to take a conciliatory approach. Dürüst said: “In my view, coalition efforts are in no way for show. They are an initiative and an assessment process aimed at reaching consensus. There is no rule that this must be settled with one particular party, but it appears that the UBP is genuinely reaching out to all parties about forming a coalition. I believe these efforts will lead to a result. I hope the parties being visited will also take a positive approach in a spirit of compromise,” he said.