Majority of Turks question timing of resumed fighting with Kurds: Analyst

Press TV has conducted an interview with Barcin Yinanc, a journalist and political commentator in Istanbul, about a recent warning by Turkey’s opposition parties that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) may resort to any possible means, even a civil war, to delay the November elections and maintain its grip on power.

What follows is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: Is it really possible do you think that President Erdogan is so desperate that he would trigger a civil war just to stay in power?

Yinanc: Well, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been a political figure that has made a lot of surprises and ever since he has been the prime minister and the president, he has made many unprecedented moves despite the constitution. He has forced the limits of the constitution as the president, so he is a personality that tries to push the limits, the constitutional limits, the legal limits in order to attain his targets.

So as far as the personality of Recep Tayyip Erdogan is concerned, yes, he is capable of thinking different measures, forcing the limits; but whether Turkey has reached a maturity that will check on the ambitions of Erdogan, we will see when the elections will be held or not.

Press TV: Will the Turkish people do you think allow such a thing to happen because we have already seen them speak in the previous elections where they did not allow Erdogan’s party that is to form a government alone, so do you think the Turks will allow this to happen?

Yinanc: Well, there are speculations that the ruling Justice and Development Party and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan might suspend the elections arguing that there is a dangerous war in Turkey inside and outside. However, I find it a bit difficult that a big majority of the Turkish nation will find this convincing.

Indeed, ever since the aftermath of June 7 elections, fighting has restarted between military forces and the PKK forces; and the fact that the fighting has restarted right after the elections, which were not satisfactory for the AKP, has created question marks among the people.

So a lot of people have been questioning why the fighting has resumed, has started again; and you hear a lot saying that this has been so because the president did not like the result of the elections and he wants to change the course of the developments.

So, therefore, my feeling is that a big majority of the nation is not convinced that there is a necessity of increased fighting. Therefore, a decision to suspend elections due to a possibility of civil war will not be convincing and I would not bet my money on the fact that elections will be suspended.

However, as I said, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been a political figure of surprises. At times, the Turkish political system was not able to stop him from what he wanted to do. Still there are certain establishments, there are certain institutions and there are opposition parties that could block what he wants as well. So we will see.

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