A blueprint for Turkey’s Justice and Development Party

What is the biggest problem in Turkey today? Terrorism? No. The economic crisis? No. The real problem in Turkey today is the lack of a responsible and serious opposition. Once again, recent events have confirmed this reality.

Facing the truth

The ruling Freedom and Justice Party (AKP) has experienced a significant shortfall due to this irresponsible opposition. The party has ignored some of the facts on the ground in this regard and must face the truth and work to resolve the problem as soon as possible.

If it were up to me, I would look at the lists in the areas in which the AKP’s candidates lost and would change all of the candidates in that area. Of course, we must also reconsider the committee responsible for selecting the candidates, adding new members as well as getting rid of others – reconsidering each member one by one if need be. The party’s rules and conditions for choosing the candidates should also be changed if the need arises.

Time is very limited and the AKP needs to make a quick and correct decision without making excuses for themselves. This matter concerns the party as a whole, and if they do not give it attention, who will?

Serious accountability

We must free matters from under the pressure and control of ministers, MPs, businessmen, mayors, etc. How can we do this, you ask? We must subject everyone to serious accountability that spares no one. Those who are seen by some as “angels” may be seen by others as “devils”. Instead of asking the people who they want as a candidate, we should ask them who they don’t want as a candidate, and why. We must try to figure out why they want candidate x and do not want candidate y; this may reveal new facts.

The AKP must not allow the formation of a “deep entity” – an inner clique – within the party. Cut out those who are trying to achieve their own interests by exploiting emotions, intimidation, enticement and bribes, and be cautious towards them. They must think very hard before adopting recommendations that say someone is a great person and a suitable candidate. They must also be cautious with those who are hypocrites who disguise themselves as pious. None of these things are as easy as you may think.

I hope the AKP will be vigilant in dealing with the recommendations of consultants, businessmen, officials and research centres, as some may try to exploit them. The party must not forget that they may be surrounded by spies who appear to be friends and associates. They must also not forget that there are well-intentioned people in their ranks who may be taken advantage of or tricked by these individuals.

Ponder the truth

Now, communicating with the party will be difficult as they will be very busy. However, they must be careful as they may be sure that they know the truth, but at the same time, they may not see the facts like everyone else does. Just as they hear news about others and understand it in a certain way, there are those who hear their news and understand them in a specific manner, and this understanding may not be correct. With regards to this matter, the Justice and Development Party has grave shortcomings in its communications and contact.

There are those who love the AKP very much and who support it with all they have, but at the same time they are protective of the party and think it is their personal property. Meanwhile, the doors of the party are closed in the faces of others. This is especially true in the case of senior party members. The party must somehow remedy this without angering these senior members and without causing a dispute between new and old members. The party must also do this as soon as possible, as institutions that do not keep up with the development of new mechanisms and means will end up losing.

A new discourse

The party must also renew its political discourse and must try to be as brief as possible in their speeches. They must think like the philosopher Al-Farabi: be short and concise. They must speak at the level of those they are speaking to and should not limit their discourse to logic alone; address the people with the voice of passion as well as reason.

By doing all of this, the party will be set back onto its path; and the faster they do so, the fewer losses they will suffer. We do not have a minute to spare or a penny to waste and any small mistake may cause serious losses.

Despite everything, there is nothing that cannot be overcome or avoided – after all, nothing is impossible.

Translated from Arabi 21, 7 September 2015.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.