The coronavirus and another new political party top the Turkish agenda for now
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On March 14, 2003, Recep Tayyip Erdogan became Turkey’s prime minister, heading the country’s 59th government as the leader of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
In the 17 years since then, several of those who were by his side when he started his long political journey have left his entourage to establish their own parties in a series of blows to the dominance of APK, which swept to power in 2002 as a center-right party.
This week, the Turkish agenda has been dominated by two main topics: The coronavirus and the launch of a new political party.
Ali Babacan, a founding member of AKP, who served as deputy prime minister, foreign minister and economy minister under Erdogan, is the latest of the president’s former allies to establish a party to challenge him. After months of delays, he formally applied to the Ministry of Interior on March 9 for permission to launch his Democracy and Progress Party, or DEVA, which translates as “cure” or “remedy.
It is the second party in three months launched by a former ally of Erdogan in an attempt to shake the AKP’s base. Former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu officially introduced his Future Party to the public in December.
Babacan and Davutoglu were unable to join forces to launch a united party due to their irreconcilable political differences. The former, who held leading positions in AKP until 2015, is not only well regarded within Turkish politics but also internationally.
Davutoglu, however, who was forced to step down as PM in 2016, faced criticism for his handling of Turkey’s foreign policy during the Arab Spring. He was foreign minister when uprisings began to sweep the region in 2011. These led to instability, wars and mass displacements on Turkey’s doorstep, issues that continue to affect the country. He was criticized for his “zero problems with neighbors” approach, which failed and made him a target for critics.
Time will tell whether Ali Babacan's new political party can cure Turkey’s political, social and economic ills.
Sinem Cengiz
Both Babacan and Davutoglu say they can provide Turkey with a “fresh start” and have vowed to expand freedoms, rebuild trust in state institutions and repair the economy. This is a challenge to a ruling party that has dominated the nation’s politics for nearly two decades.
Time will tell whether DEVA can cure Turkey’s political, social and economic ills. In the meantime, we have a more immediate and pressing concern that requires urgent treatment: the coronavirus.
March 14 has been celebrated as Doctor’s Day in Turkey since 1919. This year, the event has added significance as the country, as with many others, battles to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, which began in China and has spread worldwide.
The outbreak has consequences that stretch far beyond the obvious public health concerns; there are also significant economic, social and political implications.
Turkey managed to remain virus-free for several weeks, despite being a hot spot for travel and tourism, but the country’s first, and so far only, case of COVID-19 was confirmed on Tuesday. The patient is a Turkish citizen who recently visited Europe, the health minister said. He was quarantined and is in a stable condition, and family is being monitored by health officials.
When news of the diagnosis was revealed, Turkish institutions and government departments ramped up efforts to minimize the effects of a coronavirus outbreak on the economy. Measures have been implemented that cover a wide range of sectors, including manufacturing, trade, transportation and border safety. Restrictions have also been placed on tourism until the end of April, and large events and gatherings have been postponed, ministers announced on Wednesday.
Turkey, like many countries, had already banned flights to and from countries particularly badly hit by the virus, including China, Iran, Italy and South Korea. More are likely to be added as the pandemic develops.
On Wednesday, Turkish media reported that crowds surrounding Erdogan when he visited parliament were being monitored using thermal video cameras that highlight people suspected of having a fever, which is a sign of infection. The practice will continue, they added.
The coming days and weeks will reveal how Turkey handles the pandemic and how successful it will be. Although the country remains relatively safe and the situation has not reached the levels of panic that have prompted other nations to close schools and universities, and restrict public gatherings and tourism, it is inevitable that the Turkish economy will be adversely affected to some degree by the crisis, as will every country’s.
I wish all doctors a very happy Doctor’s Day, and hope that the coronavirus crisis ends as soon as possible, aided by close collaboration between the peoples and institutions of all countries.
• Sinem Cengiz is a Turkish political analyst who specializes in Turkey’s relations with the Middle East.
Twitter: @SinemCngz
