No surprise in initial reactions

The first reactions upon the nomination of Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu by opposition parties Republican People’s Party (CHP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) did not surprise me.

The ultranationalist wing of the CHP is reacting naturally. If you were to ask me if they would prefer a candidate who is bound to lose the election in advance, I guess they would.

Because the MHP is a more disciplined party, no disapproval has been raised there yet. If there are objections there, it would show as working unwillingly during the campaign, just like it happened in the constitutional referendum.

No doubt, the most interesting reaction is the reaction of the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP).

Since there is not much they can say about İhsanoğlu, the frequently visited opinion has become “He has not criticized the coup in Egypt.”

But this would not work much today because President Abdullah Gül has personally congratulated General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

During that period, İhsanoğlu was the general secretary of the ICO and members of that organization, except for Turkey, were not condemning the coup.

If you are heading an international organization, it is not possible to act contrary to what member countries are doing.

I have reviewed the comments in pro-government media; they somehow have an attitude that they were sorry for the CHP. If the CHP and MHP’s joint candidate is disadvantaged before the AKP candidate, then why do they feel sorry? It is not easy to understand, of course.

Could it be that they are afraid of the name İhsanoğlu?

Indeed, the reason why they do not exactly know what to say for the moment is they have not...