Turkey Politics News : Deniz Baykal speaks to CNN TÜRK for the first time since his resignation as the leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP).

The former leader of Turkey’s main opposition, Deniz Baykal, has spoken for the first time to Mehmet Ali Birand, the Kanal D News Group Chair and CNN TÜRK, executive editor, after his resignation from the CHP.

Deniz Baykal, resigned from his 18-year post due to a sex tape which emerged from a website, that alleged the 71-year-old former leader and Nesrin Baydok, the CHP Member of Parliament, to have had an affair.

Baykal who was recently replaced as leader of the CHP by Kemal Kilicdaroglu answered questions, asked by the veteran news anchor, editor and producer, which the whole of Turkey and some European countries were very eager to hear.

Below are the highlights of the interview between Mehmet Ali Birand and Deniz Baykal.

Did the recent events upset you?
If I was to suggest that I was not upset, I do not think I would come across as being sincere. I believe that I go through a change every ten years of my life. I was banned from politics for five years (in 1982), I carried on and I will always carry on. The Republican People’s Party (CHP) is a big part of my life. In 2010 we are going through a rooted change once again. This type of transformations is something my system requires. Once every ten years I start over.

Are you going to return (Back to politics and the CHP)?
In politics there is no rule that you will always be a leader. My life in politics will continue. If needed I will go outside and speak to the people myself, I will carry on going on rallies and going to parliament as an MP will not upset me. I see the inner strength in me to start all over again. I cannot say, I do not care about Turkey or I do not care about the Party. For me, politics is a carrier.

Can we see Baykal as a candidate for a Party leader’s position again?
I do not do politics according to my position or rank. Whatever is beneficial for the Party, I will do with wholeheartedness. All of us must do our part.

Would you be a candidate for the Presidency?
The candidacy may go forward or it may not. I am someone who has received a five year ban. The position in question is very high profile. In my entire political carrier I have come against many obstacles but I have never given up, I always continued in my path. I have no ideology of going on a particular path. The process in time is the important factor. Baykal did not leave, Baykal is continuing with politics.

What did you think of the CHP General Assembly?
The effect which Kılıçdaroğlu has brought with him is not surreal. We must wait and see. The CHP is an up and rising Party. After the 2009 General Elections the CHP rose in popularity. Research done before I resigned showed that the CHP had risen in popularity. The last surveys showed that the CHP’s popularity had risen to 25-30%. We are seeing a step by step trend which we are winning. I resigned in a dramatic way.

Do you have any regrets of resigning?
No, I have not regretted resigning. I am glad that I did it. When I resigned I said it should not be interpreted as me giving myself up or trying to escape from this conspiracy. To the contrary it will be rising up to the challenge. I resigned to get to the bottom of this conspiracy. I am going to make sure people do not forget this conspiracy. I vowed myself for this challenge. My exit also had an effect on our popularity. Our votes have clearly risen. When I was resigning our popularity was up to 30%. In the next General Election the CHP will rise to power. Before I resigned we were the top Party in Istanbul.

My resignation has had a shock effect to the Party and our people. What will happen next was asked? But the CHP passed this process. Kılıçdaroğlu’s sympathetic stance and his populist approach has started a new era. The General Assembly has accelerated the Party’s ever growing power. Our job now is to continue this trend. My resignation had a big part in the General Assembly being so dramatic and exciting. A new leader, new excitement and the media’s support has started a new era. The CHP must see this as a win.

They asked Baykal to come back (as leader of the CHP) but then they stopped?
When I said I will not be returning, naturally they supported the only candidate that came forward. I said I would not put forward my candidacy. How can you vote for someone who is not a candidate in the General Assembly? I told our friends to do their jobs and show their support. Us being against the process or trying to obstruct it, is not an option. I left, Kılıçdaroğlu came.

Kılıçdaroğlu calling the Prime Minister, Mr Recep?
This is Mr Kemal’s way of expression. He calls me Mr Deniz too. He used to call the Prime Minister, Mr Recep in our talks about him. He is not saying this in an insulting manor. It is not good to rush to conclusions from such a thing.

Would Kılıçdaroğlu Re-unite the Left?
The Left (Wing) was already united. We were not going through any trouble on this matter. Kamer Genç, backing the CHP along with others and Rahşan Ecevit’s presence at the CHP General Assembly all had a meaning. I do not believe that there were any serious differences between the Left

What happened in your meeting with Kılıçdaroğlu?
We had a very sincere and warm meeting?

A report about the conspiracy was published (Which said Baykal was not the person in the Sex Tape)? You never said it was not me, WHY?
There were two questions which I was asked. Why did you resign? Does this not mean that you are conceding? And the second was, why did I not dismiss the accusations? Why did I Resign? I did not resign because I was pressurized because of this conspiracy. I resigned to settle the scores with the conspiracy. I did it so everyone would understand this (that it was a conspiracy). I did the right thing. Everyone supported us. More people started to understand and believe that this was a conspiracy by the government. What does this show? If anyone knows something they must come forward, this is me outwitting the challenger (government). My resignation is not a sign of weakness, but the rising of the resistance.

The second point is that so many people expect me to come forward and deny the allegations. This is wrong for me. It would have been improper. No one has the right to question anyone in this manner. Your job is not to gossip. My rights have been violated. Who haven’t they gossiped about? How are we going to close the scores with these people? If I had

defended myself, I was going to be a part of that conspiracy. If I was in the position of trying exculpate myself out of the situation, I was going to be in a situation where I had to answer to questions. I told people to tell the authorities whatever they knew. I would not answer to this. The law will have to. I do not give anyone the right to ask me this question. I will not answer to this question, the law will.

Round Up

Deniz Baykal’s remarks showed that he was still behind the CHP and to the contrary of all the bickering of how he was offended by Kılıçdaroğlu not telling Baykal that he will announce his candidacy, he was still behind Kılıçdaroğlu.

Baykal was also aware of the effect that Kılıçdaroğlu has brought into the CHP and almost backed the notion that a change was required but obviously not in the way which the former leader had resigned.

Kılıçdaroğlu’s first speech as the leader of the Republican People’s Party had been heard wide and clearly from all sides of the political Parties and their supporters in Turkey. And like so many people before, the people just want someone to keep their promises.

Like Mr Deniz Baykal said “THE PROCESS OF TIME” will show us.

Leave your comments and thought bellow.

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