Internal criticism in the AKP

The press somehow did not pay too much attention to the meeting between Prime Minister Binali Yıldıım and former Justice and Development Party (AKP) ministers.

Let me tell you about it. The former ministers will not speak outside any longer. Whatever criticism they have, they will voice it within the party. That’s the most important result of the meeting. 

The prime minister is opening the channel of dialogue within the party; he welcomes criticism.

The second important piece of information is that some names like Bülent Arınç and Hüseyin Çelik have been complaining about the exclusionist attitudes and being left alone against attacks via social media. They are resentful that the party and government officials have not endorsed them.

And this was noted seriously during the meeting. 

Apparently Nimat Baş, former family and social affairs minister, first took the floor. Her speech was very much appreciated and in fact it soothed the mood which was pretty tense at the beginning.

The most influential speech apparently came from Sait Yazıcıoğlu. He said the fight against the Fethullahist Terror Organization (FETÖ) should not target all the (religious) brotherhoods. He underlined the need to separate a crippled understanding of religion and the concept of brotherhoods. And he also added that this fight cannot succeed if religion is not taught properly to society.

In addition, three of the four ministers who lost their seats during the Dec. 17- 25, 2013, incidents complained about the fact that they were left alone at that time but that the failed coup attempt of July 15 proved their claims that they had been subjected to a plot.

Only Erdoğan Bayraktar apparently sat silently, without talking at all.

Turkey set for elections

This is what Gürsel Tekin from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) is saying: “There are two dates for local elections. One is November 2017. The second is March 2018. It’s ok with us; there is no problem. The CHP is ready for that.”

What I say is this: Once politicians start talking about elections, prepare to have strong nerves for that. Election tension is knocking on the door. Whether it’s early elections or on time, all this election speculation shows that politics has entered the election mood. 

Separating the guilty from the innocent

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Yıldırım have called for sensitivity to separate the guilty from the innocent.

It is open that there is need for sensitive filters for journalists; Eyüp Can is one of them, and I don’t say it because of our friendship only.

I cannot find it probable that he can support a coup. He rejects it vehemently in his statements.

I have not seen a dubious stance about the police-judiciary plot after the Dec. 17- 25, 2013, affairs. He tried to remain within the borders of journalism, despite all the dust of misinformation.

He was clear cut in the presence of the parallel structure and how mistaken this was.

I hope the truth will be revealed shortly.