Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Third time lucky: A new President: A new Turkey?


As voting started today at 3 PM EET, it's almost for sure that the current minister of Foreign Affairs, A. Gül, will be inaugurated as the new Turkish President.
I don't have any doubts about the qualifications and capacities of him, but with a President, a Prime-Minister and a speaker of the Parliament, all from the ruling government party the AKP, there is no balance in Turkish political spectrum anymore. 53% of the Turkish people are completely left out in any decision-making process. The winner-takes-it-all shows that this only will polarize a country, as you can see in the USA.
Because of the highly controversial opposition policy by the CHP in the last 5 years, putting Turkey in crisis all the time, this is the final result. Part of Turkey is happy, the other part not.
The Turkish military ousted 4 governments, but never a President...

8 comments:

Sean Jeating said...

And let's hope, Hans, that the old saying does not prove true in this case: There is always a first time.

Anonymous said...

But the President is the boss of the army..))
That will make the Turkish consitution not valid anymore, and Ataturk legacy ince he preceeds Ataturk as the 11th President..))

Esra said...

I am from the unhappy part...
:-(
and from the "angry" part as well...

Anonymous said...

Understand Esra, but you have to admit that he gave a great speech today.
Angry about Baykal and CHP, who were so childish to boycot the elections again?..)))
I am with you with some things, but times are changing, and as Gul act responsable as he did as foreign minister, he will do a great job.
Btw, he opened the Palace for ordinairy people, which is a good sign..))
Power to the People..))
kindest

Anonymous said...

hi Hans!!!!
I have been moving from one place to another since a week.
I was in the netherlands for 2 days. the rest is being passed in belgium from one town to another drinking kinds of belgian beer. now in ghent. I am trying dutch, too. Peole are very helpful. i didnt come across that "cold european people" as they always see europeans as cold people in Turkey. also I smoke less here. cause nobody smokes and look at me strangely when I smoke. it is also calmer than istanbul mess. So, europe (till now) is good for my mental health::)))

take care

Berna/ Belgium

Anonymous said...

I think, It will be Fine! But I wasn't happy with Gul's Foreign policy and hot to handle things like; general attitude, sorry he didn't even knew how to shook hands with diplomats or talked. Had him in the hotel 3 times couple of years back.. But he might learnt by now.

Maybe I should be carefull what I say now on; He is our President!

Unknown said...

everybody is learning..))
btw, he is an more open society...

Anonymous said...

Personally I think that with Mr. Gul as President we finally get what we deserve: true democracy.
I am so angry what the CHP and all these idiots did with our country!