Reactions to Turkey’s main opposition CHP’s new opening out to veiled members

It is obvious that this decision has confused a number of CHP supporters.

I wonder at the exact number of CHP supporters who think like this?

I spoke to party chairman, Deniz Baykal, yesterday.

He said he held the results of a survey conducted in 16 of Turkey’s largest cities and towns.

He said the survey was conducted by 'Political Researcher Strategy Development Center.'

Commenting on the survey held on Nov. 21-23, after the CHP’s move to embrace veiled members, he said, 'I don't know who asked for this survey to be conducted'.

According to the figures Baykal stated, 77 percent of CHP supporters looked favorably the move, while 12.5 percent were opposed.

The number of supporters’ undecided on the issue was 10 percent, Baykal also said.

If these survey results are reliable, it appears that Baykal's new more open stance has found wide ground among the party's grass-roots voters.

What about the 12.5 percent of supporters not convinced, can they be swayed?

Since they represent the hard line secularist party supporters, it could be said that, 'they have no other place to go...'

 * * *

But the most important result of this survey is how the move is assessed by the supporters of the country’s other political parties.

According to the figures, 46.1 percent of the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) supporters found the move positive, while 36 percent said they were not in support of the move. The figures also revealed that some 17 percent remain undecided on the issue.

The figures also showed that a total of 64 percent of Nationalist Movement Party's supporters viewed the decision as positive, while 22 percent said they were not in support and 12.5 percent were still undecided.

The survey also revealed that 55 percent of people survey around the country viewed the move as "sincere", while just 24.5 percent viewed it as “insincere”.�

* * *

In my opinion, these results are very telling and extremely important.

The results show that the majority of society, regardless of their background, views this new openness as a sincere move, a positive step that could help bring an end to the tension.

The results also reveal that 'positive based' politics can be a successful strategy in the coming elections.

Therefore I would like to say to my relative, and to all CHP supporters, particularly those tied to the symbolic values of secularism that Baykal's new openness should be supported.

This move places the CHP in a position where it can compete on a level playing field.

I am sure that none of us hold any suspicions on a shift in Baykal’s stance on secularism.

Therefore, there is no need for concern.

* * *

Of course there are still a number of outstanding issues the CHP needs to address.

Firstly, it needs to prove to the majority that it has the ability to be the 'ruling' party.

The party's program and guidelines will be amended ahead of the local elections.

The administration style of the party's executive body will adopt a style that allows for greater opportunities in regard to individual success, shifting away from its previous Soviet collective responsibility style.

Positive progress is being made in the CHP camp.

And this should be supported.