Politics of Turkey

The decision by Hakan Fidan, Turkey?s former intelligence chief, to run for parliament as a candidate from the Justice and Development Party (AKP), has stirred the political cauldron. The fact that Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu wanted him to run, while President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an was vehemently opposed to this, has also resulted in much speculation.

As dissidents continued to raise their voices against the controversial new homeland security bill, Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu attended a ?special security meeting? before chairing a cabinet meeting on Feb. 11.

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli has indicated he considers the apparent difference of view between President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an and Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu over the outgoing intelligence chief?s decision to run for parliament a farce.

Within Turkey's ruling elite - those who are either in or around the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) - there are very few people left who can dare to say anything self-critical. One of them is Bülent Ar?nç, who is not only the current deputy prime minister, but also a member of the very trio (with Tayyip Erdo?an and Abdullah Gül) who founded the AKP some 14 years ago. 

I wonder, if we were in a very comfortable setting and if we had a relaxed environment with the deputies of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), preferably, when they would not be feeling the pressure of the ?Palace? on them?   

More civil servants who are seeking to run for a parliamentary seat submitted their resignations on Feb. 10, ahead of the deadline on the same day for civil servants to resign in order to be nominated as candidates for the June 7 parliamentary elections.

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair Figen Yüksekda? has called on the ruling party to withdraw its controversial security package draft bill, which she described as a "package for death."

The outgoing head of Turkey?s intelligence body attended a meeting under the prime minister over the ongoing Kurdish peace process, despite resigning from his post to run for parliament for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). 

A funeral service was held in Istanbul on Feb. 10 for Turkish classical singer Müzeyyen Senar who died at the age of 96 after contracting pneumonia.

Senar?s family members, friends and numerous celebrities attended the funeral at Istanbul?s Bebek Mosque following a noon prayer to bid farewell to the prominent singer. Senar was burried at Zincirlikuyu Cemetery.

A controversial domestic security package draft code, the debate over which has been delayed at parliament twice by the government, should not be brought to the parliament agenda again, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) head Devlet Bahçeli has said.