A few smart moves by Turkey's opposition CHP

There was a reception at Istanbul?s gorgeous Ç?ra?an Palace on the evening of March 26 held by top industrialist Güler Sabanc? in honor of Sabanc? University member Dr. Fatih Birol?s election as the director of the International Energy Agency (IEA); she seemed truly proud of Birol?s success.

At the ceremony, Abdullah Gül, the former president of Turkey, said he was happy because of the success for another reason as well: there were more names from Turkey in top international positions than compared to a few years ago. Gül gave the examples of Ekmeleddin ?hsano?lu, former secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and Kemal Dervi?, former head of the U.N. Development Programme.

That is interesting because only two hours before, Dervi? signaled his return to Turkish politics by accepting an offer from Kemal K?l?çdaro?lu, the chairman of the social democratic main opposition Republican People?s Party (CHP), to serve as the economy chief of a possible CHP or CHP-involved government after the June 7 elections.

There are no reliable polls showing the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Parti) below 40 percent and the CHP above 30. K?l?çdaro?lu himself recently set the CHP target at 35 percent.

But regardless of the CHP?s future place in the government or opposition, the move is a smart one because it gives a strong signal about the CHP?s economic policy. Dervi? was a World Bank economist invited to Turkey by Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit in 2001 to cope with the biggest financial crisis in the country. Dervi? assumed control of the Treasury, setting up new and dynamic teams in both the Treasury and the Central Bank and despite a fragile three-party government, it was Dervi? who led a series of structural...