THE CORRIDOR - Local lessons to be learned from video tape politics
As sex tapes are being exposed one after the other, some are being used by politicians for political gimmicks. How are these tapes obtained? Who is conducting such an organized plot, how and where? Who can get so close to politicians tightly protected circles and how are politicians being followed even into their bedrooms? Where are these images recorded without consent saved to be exposed in due time? Why does no one take action in the matter?
Questions are plenty, but no satisfactory answer has been found yet.
The main opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, Adana Deputy Tacidar Seyhan is an informatics specialist. Seyhan previously said over 10 minibuses fully equipped for wiretapping purposes entered through customs and that information was confirmed. On behalf of the CHP, Seyhan took part in a parliamentary investigation commission on wire-tapping. Tapes are recorded and serviced on order, according to Seyhan.
“There are many illegally obtained tapes on parliamentary deputies,” Seyhan bluntly says, underlining that he received information and similar images would be serviced again when it is due.
This is not only Seyhan’s anticipation. Nowadays, the sex tape scandals hitting the MHP might happen to others any moment.
Traces of such expectation might be seen in backdrops of some political centers in Ankara. During election campaigns, sex tapes seem to remain on top political centers’ agenda.
What is pleasing is that the tape fight at top of politics has not influenced locals yet.
I was on road to Anatolia this week so as to take the pulse of cities. I listened to people and politicians in the Aegean provinces of Uşak, Denizli, Afyon; and had a chance to make observations.
The sex tape scandal has not poisoned the sensual pool of politics in the area. Responsible local competition refuses to hit below the belt.
In Denizli, politicians in a cut-throat race sent Ankara messages each a “kind of lesson.”
The governing Justice and Development Party, or AKP, first row deputy candidate Nihat Zeybekçi said “Not even the ‘T’ in the word ‘tape’ was on the agenda in Denizli. We will not allow this. It is not right either. We have not even uttered a single word on it and we will never.”
The CHP’s number one candidate Adnan Keskin said “Political gimmicks using the tape will not take us anywhere. This is something extrajudicial. Neither is it moral nor human. We are tackling with unemployment, corruption and bans here.”
The Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP, first row deputy candidate Emin Haluk Ayhan said “I was reacted neither by people nor by my competitors regarding the sex tapes.”
What do you say? Will anyone in Ankara hear this out?
Kılıçdaroğlu’s modest menu
I found an opportunity to exchange a few words with the CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s wife Sevim Hanım at the Uşak meeting. Mrs. Kılıçdaroğlu told me about the modest menu of her husband who lost some weight during campaign trails.
I learned Kılıçdaroğlu is not fussy with food. His favorite dish is famous fried beans from his hometown Tunceli. But, this is a dish cooked with garlic, Sevim Hanım informed me. And because garlic smells bad, Kılıçdaroğlu has not been eating fried beans for a long time.
His second favorite dish is dried beans. Kılıçdaroğlu is almost addicted to it, Sevim Hanım said. His number three is stuffed meat balls made with bulgur, which is called “içli köfte” in Turkish.
And the essential on this modest menu is “yoghurt and bread.” Yes, you hear correctly. If Kılıçdaroğlu cannot find any of his favorite dishes, he mostly prefers eating yogurt and bread, Sevim Hanım said.
Bon appetite.
Comfy room selection in Parliament
Foundations of the new public relations building has been laid in Parliament. An 11-storey smart building, to cost around 108.9 million Turkish Liras, will have three flats at the lower levels. Construction of 40 square meter offices for each of 550 deputies will be completed within two years. Deputies will share their rooms with secretaries and advisers. Two types of rooms will be in the building. Luxury level will be decided after a questionnaire. There are two types of rooms, one of which will have bigger space, double desks and a couch as the other will be smaller and have armchairs. Parliament Presidency holds a questionnaire among deputies, advisers and secretaries. No one knows which room type will be decided in the questionnaire but it’s better if I let you know that the first option, i.e. comfy and bigger room is more suitable for work, according to Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Şahin.
