Necip F. Bahadir
The long-awaited meeting between Erdogan and Ozel was marked by the ’empty chair’ issue. It was impossible to miss the empty seat left to the left of Erdogan, who was seated between two Turkish flags. As the meeting progressed, a debate about the ’empty chair’ began in the public eye and on social media.
Was it a message from Erdogan to Ozel? What was the empty chair doing at the head of the table? Was someone supposed to come and sit during the meeting? Did the ’empty chair’ opposite Ozel belittle the CHP leader? Or was it a nod to Namik Tan, the diplomat accompanying Ozel in the meeting?
Politics had long awaited this meeting. The news says ‘after 8 years.’ No, it goes much further back than that. Yes, Erdogan met with Kilicdaroglu 8 years ago, but that meeting took place right after the July 15 coup attempt, under extraordinary circumstances. It wasn’t an ordinary meeting. This time it’s different; the conditions are relatively more normal, and the agenda is entirely political…
The summit took place at the AKP headquarters, as per CHP’s request. Erdogan would have preferred to have the meeting at the Presidential Palace. He could have used this opportunity to break the opposition’s boycott of the Palace. However, the CHP’s insistence on limiting the meeting venues to ‘Cankaya, the Parliament, and the AKP headquarters’ tied Erdogan’s hands. He’s not what he used to be… He had to accept reluctantly.
The summit lasted ‘1 hour 35 minutes.’ A bit longer than usual. Considering the number of topics, it was an ordinary duration. Erdogan had only met with Bahceli for 45 minutes, under the shadow of harsh messages and crises. His meeting with Ozel lasted twice as long as with Bahceli. In light of this, what else could Bahceli do but feel disheartened? So far, Erdogan had not extended his hand to the leaders of opposition parties. All his meetings were with actors of the ruling bloc.
Regardless of what anyone says, the summit was a turning point… And it opened the doors to a new era.
Erdogan is setting up a new game! If it weren’t for the March 31 defeat, would Erdogan have met with Ozel? Would Ankara have hosted such a summit? No. Turkey owes the grand meeting to March 31. Erdogan has always avoided meeting with the opposition. So much so that he even banned AKP spokespeople from appearing on the same TV programs as opposition representatives. Talking with the opposition, seeking ways to cooperate, sitting around the same table were not in Erdogan’s dictionary.
The March 31 defeat led Erdogan to new searches. His approach to the CHP, his meeting with Ozgur Ozel was part of the ‘game plan.’ The discussions about a new constitution are also part of it… The aim is not to forget the March 31 defeat or to drop it from the agenda. Daily debates or controversies cannot make people forget the ‘March 31 debacle,’ nor can they take it off the agenda. After March 31, the ball was in the opposition’s court. The psychological and moral advantage was with the opposition… The ruling parties, primarily AKP and MHP, were just struggling. Erdogan, adept at managing crises, did not know what to do. He was floundering. Like the Titanic hitting an iceberg… There’s panic on the ship. ‘The captain knows the ship is taking on water’… According to leaked information, Ozel complained about the seating arrangement at the meeting. Of course, about the ’empty chair’ too… ‘We didn’t like it,’ he said. Erdogan was surprised by Ozel’s objection and responded, ‘This is how we sit when Bahceli comes.’ He showed photos of the meeting with Bahceli from the internet as ‘evidence.’ Clearly, Erdogan was facing someone who objected to him for the first time. The ’empty chair’ debates continued, and a brief statement came from the AKP: ‘It has no special meaning!’
If Erdogan intended to send a message with the chair, he messed up and did not achieve his goal.
We learn from news leaked to the backstage that Erdogan told Ozel he wanted to return the visit at the CHP headquarters. In a way, he asked for an appointment. Oh, March 31! What are you!
What other will and power could have forced Erdogan to knock on the CHP’s door. A month ago, what didn’t he say about the CHP? ‘Trash, pit, mud!’ he said. He even accused them of ‘sending stacks of money to Kandil’… He targeted ‘Mr. Ozgur’ in public rallies… March 31 promoted Ozgur Ozel from lordship to chieftainship.
Erdogan was helpless, had to bow to fate. He last went there upon the opening of the new headquarters building in 2006. Since then, CHP has gone through two chairpersons. Would you expect Erdogan to encounter a surprise seating arrangement at the CHP? I wouldn’t bet on it. If it happens, it would be the host’s fault, not the guest’s.
What part of the Constitution will you change? The content of the meeting is more or less clear… Erdogan announced days ago that he would bring up the ‘new constitution’ issue. The AKP has not given any clues. What will be new in the new constitution? Are there articles that will revise the system? Looking at Mehmet Ucum and MHP’s stance, it seems they have given up on the 40 plus 1 ambition. What’s left? Allowing the president to be elected more than twice? Maybe that could be said to MHP and Ucum, but could such a proposal be made to CHP?
The moment the words ‘new constitution’ come out of Erdogan’s mouth, Ozel’s response is clear; ‘First, comply with the existing constitution…’
Here’s what happened on May 1; demonstrations and marches are constitutional rights. There is a decision by the Constitutional Court. Despite this, the police, in line with the policies of the AKP government, built a wall of flesh in front of those, including Ozgur Ozel, who wanted to march towards Taksim.
Where is the Constitution? Rights, law, justice are on the ground…
The May 1 bans showed the true face of the Erdogan administration to the world, and also gave Ozel a ‘strong card.’ Steps to increase the power of the Parliament could be taken. Returning to the institution of censure… The opposition wants regulations that will strengthen the Parliament. Would the AKP agree? It’s a bit difficult. Stepping back from this system… Erdogan has no reverse gear… At least not until the last elections! March 31 burned the brake pads. Ozel’s agenda is more extensive than Erdogan’s. From Can Atalay, to pension reforms, from criminal law revisions, to systemic reforms…
Early elections, on Ozgur Ozel’s agenda Following the meeting, Ozel told Sözcü that he was ‘optimistic.’ Optimistic about what? About the articles negotiated producing results? Will there be developments in the cases of Can Atalay, Osman Kavala? Will the penal law be reconsidered? Will the current disastrous system be reformed? Will the unspoken state of emergency be replaced by normalization and dialogue? Or is he simply optimistic because the meeting itself started? A Japanese proverb was reminded; ‘Stretch the rope but don’t break it!’
There’s no need to go all the way to Japan to remember this saying; it’s a saying from Anatolia. You could hear this phrase in village coffeehouses.
It’s undoubtedly important that Ozel said he was ‘optimistic.’ But what about Erdogan? Is he optimistic too? What result would make Erdogan (happy)? There’s nothing that would make Erdogan optimistic other than maintaining his power for a while longer. Ozel wouldn’t contribute to that, surely.
Early election? ‘Early elections’ are on Ozel’s agenda. He’s biding his time. The timing of a possible election would have a definite impact on the outcome. What I am most curious about is whether Ozel brought up ‘early elections’ and the phrases he used… The results of March 31 would inevitably force the issue anyway. There’s no need for Ozel to insist.
As important as its content and outcome, the summit itself is significant… The AKP government can’t derive any benefit from it. It has already entered the twilight of an irreversible evening. As one era closes in politics, a new one begins. After years without politics, classical politics has restarted in Ankara.
And in this new era, there’s no place for parties like the AKP and MHP as actors, maybe extras… Don’t you hear the footsteps of the new era too?”
