Is the AK Party ready to share its powers with the CHP?

Reviewing the papers after Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu met with Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu Monday evening, some papers see the full half of the glass while others see the empty side. The same goes for those writers who re-wrote their columns after the meeting. 

I think the daily Hürriyet’s viewpoint after the meeting was a correct one; the most important aspect for the moment is that the bridge between the two parties has not been burnt. However, because the bridge is standing there, it does not mean a coalition is certain; it does not mean the opposite either. 

If you ask me, it is very difficult for the two parties to explain to their voters why they were not able to form a joint government after all. It is more difficult than explaining why they have formed a joint government. 

What is the obstacle before the two leaders in saying, “We have done it; we will present the list of cabinet members to the president in two days?” 

Is it political disputes, psychological disputes or is it a deep crack way back from history? When you look for it, you can find adequate material for all these three themes; in other words, it is easy to see the empty side of the glass.

You don’t need to go back 100 years, to the days of the Party of Union and Progress vs. the Freedom and Accord Party. For the last 13 years, one of the parties, which are seeking ways for a partnership today, was ruling, the other was opposing. They have left nothing unsaid to each other.  

If today even the voters of these two parties are cross at each other, then there is a serious polarization in question and it is these two parties that are at the source of this polarization (some people get angry at me because I am showing the CHP as a source of polarization, but do not forget that without two poles, there cannot be polarization). 

The only obstacle before the two parties getting together to rule the country is not one that comes from history; there is also a psychological dimension to it. That dimension lies on the reluctance of the AK Party, which has gotten used to ruling alone for 13 years, to share the government and for the CHP, which has been in opposition for 13 years, almost smearing all aspects of politics.  

In order to overcome these breaking points which do not mean too much for the man on the street, in other words, to give up seeing the empty side of the glass, we have two days. The leaders will either be leaders, meaning they will take risks, or they will want to play safe and say, “The empty side of the glass is more important to us.”

A formula developed by the AK Party front to overcome this issue and to institutionalize it is the “limited reform government.”

In other words, a partnership will be formed for a limited time, to reach limited goals and at the end, of course, move the country to an election. There will be a partnership but the partners will be utmost independent in several fields.  

The shortcomings of this formula are endless; one does not need to be a soothsayer to predict it will be a failure. 

Let us hope that in these two days, a rational thinking style will dominate both parties. 

Not to knock the table down

The option of an early election is always there; however, the efforts of both parties, the AK Party and the CHP, should absolutely be noted while they are trying not to be the side to have toppled the partnership table. 

Especially the CHP is exerting intense efforts not to be the side that has left the table, almost like a well-disciplined football team. 

Even if these efforts are disliked by staunch domestic opposition and wannabe writers on social media, actually this effort will not only make the CHP a government partner it will also make it a candidate to rule, a party which has an image of “not afraid to walk to power, eager to rule Turkey.” 

Up to now, the CHP has shown it wants to rule; now it is time to see whether or not the AK Party is ready share the government after their 13-year one-party-rule.