"Closing down the AK Party may result in a disaster. While trying to protect the secular order, we may lose both secularism and democracy"

- 23 / 07 / 2008 08:11

Fatma Disli

Since the Constitutional Court announced July 28 as the date to deliberate the closure case against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), the issue in all its aspects has dominated the agenda, with discussions focusing mainly on the damage the party's closure would inflict on Turkey.

Radikal's Hasan Celal Güzel, commenting on what kind of damage the possible closure of the AK Party would cause in Turkey, says it would negatively influence not only Turkey's internal issues such as its economy and stability but also how it is perceived by the international community. One of the serious consequences of the possible AK Party closure would be, in Güzel's view, the tarnishing of Turkey's image abroad. "EU negotiations would be frozen.

Perhaps Turkey's EU adventure would come to an abrupt end. Perhaps Turkey's removal from the Council of Europe would begin to be discussed, just as happened during the Sept. 12, 1980 coup period. It would become an unattainable dream for Turkey to be elected a member of the UN Security Council. Turkey will in a short time be relegated to the rank of a Third World country," states Güzel.

According to Milliyet's Hasan Cemal, if the Constitutional Court rules against AK Party closure, this would deal a fatal blow to those who support anti-democratic and illegitimate actions. He notes that coups would perhaps become history in this country and that an era of democratic political competition would begin. However, in the event of the AK Party's closure, Cemal warns that a series of unfavorable developments would occur in Turkey. "Things would change for the worse. Turkey would see the level of tension escalate further. Political tension would also surge. With the AK Party's closure, Turkey would suddenly find itself on the brink of early elections," he states.

"What Turkey is undergoing can best be described as a state of unpredictability. And the AK Party closure case on which everyone has concentrated is the climax of this state," says Star's Mustafa Karaalioğlu. He finds the launching of a closure case against a ruling party not long after it won a resounding election victory very bizarre for a democratic country. What he thinks more bizarre is the acceptance of such a case by the court. "We are playing a guessing game on an issue that will directly influence everyone's future and that will shape the future of Turkey. Hence, it is not very important for me to voice my prediction on the AK Party closure case. There is one thing I know, and that is that the AK Party should not be closed down. The option of closing down parties should be eliminated in the future of this country," suggests Karaalioğlu.

Posta's Mehmet Ali Birand discusses whether possible closure of the AK Party, which faces charges of anti-secularism, would help protect the secular order in Turkey or not. "Will closing down the AK Party really work when it is evident that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan -- even if he is banned from politics -- will be elected as an independent deputy and become the prime minister again? Why do we choose the most painful, coercive and punishing method when we know that things will be the same again at the end of the day?" asks Birand.

 In his view, it would be a more effective way of urging the AK Party to comply with secular principles for the court to issue a warning to it. "Closing down the AK Party may result in a disaster. While trying to protect the secular order, we may lose both secularism and democracy," warns Birand.