Unease over ‘warriors’ at the AKP: They are doing damage (24.04.2017)

Emine Kaplan
 
At the Central Executive Committee and Central Decision and Executive Committee held under the chairship of Prime-Minister Binali Yıldırım, a twelve-person commission has been set up consisting of party administrators and ministers to analyse the referendum results. At the meetings, in assessing the reasons for the ‘no’ vote remaining below the party’s expectation, there was mention of certain pro-President Tayyip Erdoğan ‘warriors’ on social media. It was concluded that the comments they make on social media damage the party and have a negative influence. The AKP executive has formed a special team and is working on how President Tayyip Erdoğan will be made a member of the party.
It was decided at the AKP Central Executive Committee and Central Decision and Executive Committee to set up a commission to investigate the reasons why the 48.6% that voted ‘no’ did so and, particularly, why ‘no’ was ahead in Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya, Balıkesir and Denizli. The commission consisting of party administrators and ministers will perform their task with further reference to reports to be compiled by local organisations and MPs. The report drawn up at the conclusion of this work will be assessed at the Central Executive Committee and Central Decision and Executive Committee.
At the meetings, certain members, while expressing their opinions on the referendum results, criticised the style and manner of certain Erdoğan protagonists on social media. The conclusion reached at the meeting was that the polarising and discriminatory rhetoric of some warriors and their comments that got on society’s nerves damage the party and have a negative effect, which was the case during the referendum.
Certain Central Decision and Executive Committee members commented that, on examination of provinces in which ‘no’ and ‘yes’ results were ahead, mayors belonging to opposition parties made a great contribution towards ‘no’ but AKP municipalities’ influence in boosting ‘yes’ remained low. Certain members also made reference to the fight against the Fethullah Gülen Terrorist Organisation, and noted that the expulsions from professions under decrees with the force of law and the perception of unjust treatment affected the results. Some members, on the other hand, pointing out that the Syrians present in the country have given rise to anxiety in society, emphasised that this state of affairs was reflected in the referendum result.
Special effort for Erdoğan
The AKP executive will devote special attention to the way in which President Tayyip Erdoğan is to become a member of the party after the Supreme Election Council has officially announced the referendum results. With an imposing ceremony being planned, various options are being considered. Included among these options are Prime-Minister Binali Yıldırım getting President Erdoğan to sign his membership form at the presidential palace, Erdoğan coming to AKP headquarters and becoming a member and taking an invitation to Erdoğan signed by the 316 AKP MPs.