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Ruşen Çakır Compares Reformists in CHP to AKP’s Founding Process
Ruşen Çakır suggested that if the reformist wing within CHP forms a separate party, it could resemble the AKP’s founding experience in 2001. He emphasized that the debate should focus not only on votes taken from CHP’s base but also on how the new party would appeal to the entire opposition.
Ruşen Çakır ISTANBUL (Medyascope) – Medyascope Editor-in-Chief Ruşen Çakır proposed that if the reformist wing within CHP establishes a separate party, it might mirror the AKP’s founding experience in 2001. According to Çakır, the discussion should not be limited to how much of CHP’s base the new party would capture but should also consider how it would address the entire opposition electorate.
Çakır compared the internal conflict within CHP to the pre-2001 split within the National Vision Movement. He noted that while reformists could be given space, this was not unconditional. Looking back, he described the "reformist" movement led by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, then Istanbul Provincial Chairman of the Welfare Party.
The main goal of this group was to reach voters outside the entrenched base of the National Vision with modern methods. At the Virtue Party congress, the reformists nominated Abdullah Gül against General Chairman Recai Kutan and gained significant votes, but Erbakan filled the party leadership with traditionalists.
After the Constitutional Court banned the Virtue Party, the reformists, after a brief hesitation, founded the AKP. Those loyal to Erbakan formed the Felicity Party. Çakır said, "The reformists were initially labeled as divisive." Instead of directly confronting Erbakan, the reformists cited court rulings and declared, "We have shed the National Vision shirt," moving forward on that basis.
Ruşen Çakır analyzed the reformists of the National Vision and the reformists of CHP, emphasizing that the debate should not be confined to CHP’s base. He highlighted a key difference between the CHP situation and the National Vision split: while Erbakan was a strong and charismatic leader, the reformists in CHP face "a very weak figure" in opposition.
Çakır noted that in both cases there was judicial intervention—manifested as a court ruling in the AKP case and as an appointed administration in CHP.
He found it unrealistic to reduce the reformists’ new party debate solely to "how much of CHP’s base can we take?" and argued that the main question is how the new party can appeal to the entire opposition.
Çakır also pointed out the existence of voters dissatisfied with the AKP government but unwilling to vote for CHP "just because it is CHP." He suggested that, similar to those who once refrained from voting for the Welfare or Virtue parties because they were seen as continuations of a tradition, some voters might be drawn to the new party thinking, "These are no longer CHP."
He also mentioned Özgür Özel’s recent tour of Anatolia, saying the interest Özel received indicates "something is changing."
Çakır warned that if the reformists get caught up in debates over who will speak for the group or who will be expelled, they could lose their energy and appeal. He added that all these assessments are not definitive predictions but possibilities based on the AKP experience. CHP absolute nullity decision National Vision movement Support Medyascope. Subscribe to Medyascope.
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