Babacan's political initiative organizes workshop to address Kurdish issue

Duvar English

Former Turkish deputy prime minister Ali Babacan has said that preparations for his long-awaited political party includes organizing workshops to develop policy plans to address Turkey's issues. The most recent workshop was held in a hotel in the capital Ankara with the attendance of 15 experts to address the Kurdish issue, Babacan told a delegation in a closed meeting on Dec. 10.

According to information received from this delegation, Babacan said that the first day of the workshop focused on the problems regarding the Kurdish issue, whereas the second day looked at the solution proposals. “We want to hit the road being prepared...We want to hit the road having put forward our solution proposals for Turkey's problems. We want to be ready when we are asked 'What is your solution proposal for this problem?'” Babacan said.

Babacan resigned from the the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in July, citing “deep differences.” He was a founding member of the AKP, serving as economy and foreign minister during its first years in power before becoming deputy prime minister, a role he held from 2009 to 2015.

Babacan said on Dec. 10 that renowned professors such Selçuk Şirin, who specializes in political psychology, and economist Daron Acemoğlu will take on roles in his new party.

Babacan also touched upon recent reports that a group of former politicians from the AKP were trying to to dissuade him and former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu from founding new parties. Babacan said no such delegation had so far visited him.

Babacan said that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who also chairs the AKP, had personally tried to convince him to stay with the AKP back in July. “[But] We look our own way. Nothing can be now done to convince us. Apart from such meetings, there are other efforts to prevent us, but we are not taking them into account,” Babacan said.

Babacan also announced that he and his team were planning to launch the new party by Dec. 31, but this date might be postponed to Jan. 5, 2020 due to legal procedures.

AKP divided over anticipated new political parties

Meanwhile, the AKP officials have been closing following the news of the hotly anticipated new political parties: one under the leadership of Babacan, the other under the leadership of Davutoğlu. The issue has divided the AKP itself, with a group thinking that the new parties would not hold any chance against President Erdoğan, with the other group saying that there is an urgent need to “establish trust” with voters. “The issue is not about Davutoğlu or Babacan; it is about AKP, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. If we do not establish trust [with voters], they might all have a chance,” says this second group, Nergis Demirkaya from Gazete Duvar has reported.

The new party which Davutoğlu is forming is expected to file its application to the Interior Ministry on Dec. 13. On the day that the application is made, the party officials are expected to hold a publicity meeting in a hotel in the capital Ankara, where Davutoğlu will make a speech. According to another plan, the application will be made on Dec. 12, but the announcement will be made on Dec. 13.

Davutoglu served as prime minister between 2014 and 2016 before falling out with Erdoğan. On Sept. 13, he announced his resignation from the AKP, saying that the party was no longer able to solve the country’s problems and no longer allowed internal debate.

The AKP officials are now divided over what kind of a stance their party should take in the face of Babacan's and Davutoğlu's parties. Erdoğan attacked against Davutoğlu and Babacan over a discussion on Şehir University this weekend and accused his former allies of defrauding Halkbank. Davutoğlu released a written response shortly after Erdoğan’s speech, saying that a parliamentary commission should be established in order to examine the assets of all presidents, prime ministers and their relatives.

Some of the AKP officials believe that Erdoğan should continue his accusations against Davutoğlu and Babacan, while the other group in the party says such a stance would not “benefit” either side. “Whatever has been done, people would say 'They [Babacan and Davutoğlu] were your minister and prime minister,' and people would then question the presidency. So, this should not be the method of a struggle against such initiatives [political movements],” a politician who took on various roles in the AKP told Gazete Duvar.

As for the party that Babacan is forming, some AKP executives say Babacan does not have a “leadership quality” in him and once he faces the public, he will not have a chance against Erdoğan. But, another group of AKP executives finds such evaluations wrong. “Babacan is said to be a 'coward'. But if he is a coward, how is that he is facing us with a new party! It is not important what Davutoğlu or Babacan will do at this point. The issue is the AKP and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. If the AKP takes steps to build confidence, these would be just details and none of them can be successful. So the issue is not related to Davutoğlu or Babacan but is left to the AKP,” said a politician who for long years worked with Babacan.