MIDEAST MIRROR 29.05.15, SECTION C (TURKEY & IRAN)

From today’s Turkish press

GENERAL ELECTIONS: Baskin Oran depicts a climate of fear in centre-left Radikal: "In every place of the world and in every era, every oppressive administration’s basic method is to create an enemy and thereby survive. The chronological order here has gone from 'reactionaries', 'bandits', 'bigots', 'communists', to 'leftists', 'separatists' and 'terrorists'. Now it is the turn of the [alleged Gulen] 'parallel' state structure. No one can say anything for fear of being identified as members of this alleged structure."

Engin Altundis sees a ray of hope in Radikal: "The HDP [pro-Kurdish leftist alliance] is a brand-new party, which is just two years-old. Like a rainbow, it includes all the colors of Turkey’s democracy: Socialists, feminists, social democrats, democratic Muslims, representatives of the Alevis, Kurds and unionists. But women, most of all. While Turkish society has been tense in recent years, there is great benefit in giving a chance to the HDP and thus to Turkey’s future democratization by not lending an ear to the manipulation and slander of the neo-nationalist-AKP [ruling Justice and Development Party] alliance. Turkey deserves that."

Mehmet Tezkan offers a prediction in centrist Milliyet: "The belief that a single party government will not emerge from the ballot box is getting stronger. The assessments are like this. If the HDP passes the 10% electoral threshold, it will be hard for the AKP to reach power alone. If the HDP does not overcome the barrier, a presidential regime and one man rule are at the door."

Nuray Mert warns against a one-party system in secular, Kemalist Cumhuriyet: "The president and the ruling party have lost all restraint. They are depicting this election as a struggle between 'enemies of the nation' and the government that claims to be the ‘one and only representative of the nation’. In this case, not only has democracy in this country been crippled, it has become impossible to conduct a democratic struggle. Depicting those who oppose a party as enemies, identifying a party with the state, the nation and the survival of the nation, is something that happens only in party-states."

Mustafa Unal suggests that the ruling party is facing failure in moderate, pro-Islamic, pro-Gulen Zaman: "The AKP is very aware. It has cut back on its goals. The excitement and enthusiasm have been replaced by fear and anxiety. This has been reflected in the newspaper columns as well. The fear has almost turned into panic. There are many things that the AKP and its supporters will lose. What will be lost will not just be the election. Financial benefits will be cut for example. Law and democracy will be restored for example [applied against the AKP]."

Hikmet Genc challenges the opposition in moderate, pro-Islamic, pro-government Yeni Safak: "There are certain TV channels, newspapers and columnists who have made attacking President Erdogan and the government a daily duty. There are those who threaten him and say 'your end will be like Menderes [former Turkish PM hanged in 1961]. Then they say that 'there is no freedom of expression, no freedom of press in Turkey'. These unconscionable people are not taking people seriously. Is there anything that could be said before 2002 but cannot be said today? They need to think well whether they are free or not."

Kurtulus Tayiz uncovers the opposition’s plans in centre-right, pro-government Aksam: "The June 7th elections are being conducted as the first phase of a plan to weaken Erdogan politically. The chief role here has been taken by the PKK and HDP leader Selahattin Demirtas. All components of the old state, all legal and illegal forces have been mobilized to support Demirtas. A broad coalition has been established. Even the MHP [Nationalist Movement Party] has been included in this coup coalition. After the elections a move will be made to drive a wedge between Erdogan and his party, and to drag him toward the Menderes’ fate step by step."

The Iranian press does not appear on Friday

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