Fikret Bila: 'Muharrem İnce Çekilmese Ne Olurdu?' 12/05/23 Halil Ferah Ile Sesli Köşe

In the labyrinthine world of politics, where every move is scrutinized and strategized to the hilt, Muharrem İnce's recent decision to withdraw his candidacy for the presidency in Turkey may seem like just another piece of the puzzle. However, if we peel back the layers of this decision, we uncover a brilliant, and some might say, unconventional chess move.

The Grand Stage of Turkish Politics

Turkey, a nation steeped in history, is marching towards a pivotal moment in its democratic journey - a presidential election that will set the course for its future. Muharrem İnce's initial decision to run for president had the potential to fracture the base of the main opposition party, CHP, thereby indirectly benefitting the incumbent President, Tayyip Erdoğan. But İnce had other ideas.

A Calculated Step

By stepping away from the race, İnce not only boosted the chances of CHP Leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu in the first round but also safeguarded himself from bearing responsibility if Kılıçdaroğlu were to lose or if the election were to head into a second round. This is political chess at its finest, where a seemingly selfless act has deeper implications.

It's crucial to note that İnce didn't explicitly endorse Kılıçdaroğlu, but given that many Memleket Party supporters have CHP origins, their support for Kılıçdaroğlu becomes the most likely scenario. It's a subtle and strategic play in the game of Turkish politics.

Extending an Olive Branch

Perhaps one of the most remarkable developments in the aftermath of İnce's withdrawal was Kılıçdaroğlu's open invitation to İnce, a move he had already made before İnce's decision. Kılıçdaroğlu's unwavering support for İnce throughout this process, without any negative remarks or ill-feelings, demonstrates remarkable political maturity.

Kılıçdaroğlu's approach signifies a broader willingness to collaborate, hinting that, in the event of victory and a need for unity, he would be open to working with İnce. This open-handed gesture paints a positive and constructive picture for Turkish politics, one that transcends ego and puts the nation's interests first.

The Path Less Taken

Muharrem İnce is a dyed-in-the-wool CHP member and a staunch follower of Atatürk's legacy. Having spent 42 years within the CHP, starting from an age where he could barely be called a child, he undertook significant responsibilities within the party. He served three terms as a successful Member of Parliament and even held the position of Deputy Group Chairman. His performance as a presidential candidate was commendable.

It's worth noting that İnce had sought to be nominated as the CHP's presidential candidate until the moment he decided to part ways and create the Memleket Party. At the time, I had expressed concerns about how his departure and the establishment of a new party could potentially play into the hands of the ruling party. I posited that such a move might divide the CHP.

İnce promptly contacted me to challenge this viewpoint, stating, "Your writing suggests that the government expects me to create a new party and split the CHP. I disagree. Even if I establish a party, it won't automatically divide the CHP. Let me ask you, how would my new party split the CHP?"

I responded with a hypothetical scenario: "Suppose you establish a party, and for whatever reason, you don't align with the Millet Alliance and your party runs independently in elections but fails to pass the electoral threshold. Wouldn't the votes from the CHP base that you garner essentially split the CHP?"

To this, İnce firmly replied, "No, my new party won't divide the CHP because I won't leave the Millet Alliance. If I create a party, I would participate in elections within the Millet Alliance."

He also added, "I'm sure Mr. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu would continue the alliance with my new party, just as he did with other parties. I'm not leaving the Millet Alliance."

I also asked him, "You previously stated that you were a presidential candidate. Will you still run for the presidency, regardless of whether or not you create a party?"

His response at that time was quite different from how events eventually unfolded: "I'll consider CHP's candidate, and if I feel comfortable with that choice, I won't run. Why would I?"

However, the reality has diverged from these earlier conversations. İnce went on to establish his party, and despite the CHP's endorsement of Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu as the common candidate for the opposition, İnce pursued his own presidential bid.

This separation of İnce and his party from the Millet Alliance could be seen as a fault on both sides, but what's done is done. The past is history, and it's the future that beckons now.

Perhaps, in the days ahead, conditions may emerge that bring İnce and his party back into the Millet Alliance, or even into power. Politics, after all, is a dynamic and ever-shifting landscape.

In the grand theater of Turkish politics, Muharrem İnce's recent exit from the presidential race may appear as just one more scene. But beneath the surface, it's a strategic masterpiece, a move that holds the potential to reshape the nation's destiny. Turkish politics is a stage where unconventional decisions lead to unprecedented outcomes, and with İnce's latest move, the plot thickens. As the election unfolds, the nation watches in anticipation of the next act in this riveting political drama.