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Ihsanoğlu, an anti-Erdoğan project

CHP"s and MHP"s presidential candidate Ekmelledin Ihsanoglu had presented his vision statement to the media, answered journalist"s questions and began his campaign.

I was one of the journalists that attended the press meeting.

Ihsanoglu is a conservative elite, who is calm and well trained. Yesterday, with such properties, he made the impression of a president fitting for pre-2007. If the election were to be held in the parliament, and if a candidate above parties was sought, then he would have been cut out for that role. Though, it can"t be said that he is a right and fitting candidate for presidency, who will be elected by the public and has political power and legitimacy. We are talking about a name, whom the public opinion has no idea of, and, whom public will learn about, who he is and what he does, through expressions and transmission rather than experiencing and trying.

When viewed within this frame, Ihsanoglu doesn"t have a political importance and meaning alone – by no means; he is not a political carrier. He is more of a "tool" for the conservative project, which has been designed in order to restrain Erdogan in the AK Party indexed elections, or at least, to weaken his power. Other than this, between the elements that he symbolizes, the only factor that can be underlined is the "stance" he is representing. This stance, considerably, will be limited to representing a symbolic president of the parliamentary layout and ask for votes within this frame.

Then, what does Ihsanoglu signify for the opposition project in question?

His campaign script and opening speech is giving clues in this respect.

In this sense, main elements of his speech were as follows:

- Need for unity, love and respect langue far from polarizing tone…

- Staying in an equal distance from all parties, staying away from execution but being a beacon for it…

- Liberty, law, participative democracy supremacy…

Each one of these elements was identified with a reference to Erdogan. Let"s say that this is following the steps of an "anti-Erdogan idea" in the topics that all the Erdogan-oriented critics intensify. Erdogan"s strong language, harsh tone, his style that is criticized for being polarizing, his desire for the presidential system and his presidency,, and, in conclusion, the participative democracratic units, which state the opposing polar of the authoritative critics oriented at AK Party, and the law issue were the elements forming the base of Ihsanoglu"s declaration of intent. Even this scene is pointing out the fact that actually the elections will be happening around Erdogan, and, Erdogan will be competing with Erdogan.

There"s a problem in Ihsanoglu"s expression: the authenticity issue.

This appears in many levels. Ihsanoglu"s vision statement and remarks were representing "eclectic" elements, which don"t fit one another and is not entwined; contrary to a "syntheses", which is a whole in itself. In four of the five clauses of the vision statement, sensibility elements like environment, public-urban field, youth and women, which they regard as the indicators of modern circles, which give value to and are replaced with social-economic categories, were involved. In regards to this, the "How much does Ihsanoglu"s conservative value system coincide with hierarchy?" question brings the authenticity issues forward. Especially, references like "marauder" related to Gezi and statements like "I won"t allow youth being called marauders" being behind these elements will only deepen the authenticity.

Yes, these are the spectacular elements at the beginning of a candidate"s campaign: a candidate who will be presented as an antidote against another political candidate.

In conclusion: The votes that Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu will collect will be due to the voters" hostility towards Erdogan, rather than representing the candidate, himself.

Will Ihsanoglu have any positive benefits from political life?

Most likely a lot…

Beginning his speech with surah al-fatihah, similar to Erdogan, he had put forth the religion centered distance and relation between a person and politics.

Ten years ago, a similar situation might have kept the journalists, who support the state, military and Ihsanoglu, on the edge of their seats. Where we stand now is important in this respect, Ihsanoglu contributed to this and he will contribute more in the future.

Elements like his soft tone, expressions that he supports the resolution process, statements that he feels sorry for the 1915 incidents and thus joins the given condolences are likewise already Ihsanoglu"s positive contributions.


10 years ago
Ihsanoğlu, an anti-Erdoğan project
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