From Public to Presidency
Abdullah Gul, whose first name of Cumhur (Republic) was changed to Abdullah with the insistence of his grandmother, finally entered Çankaya Palace on 28th of August after a 3-month crisis in a cold and indifferent Ankara.
The indifference in the political atmosphere of Ankara, despite the hot weather of August and lack of water in the city’s water pipes was due to the predetermined result of the elections, as well as the uncertainty of the political and social future of the country.
Although an election different from the previous ones –no jets flying over the parliament in low altitude, no army tanks surrounding the parliament, no gun roar and no bomb or grenade blast- different messages are received from the leaders of the new government that concern some, despite all the exultation caused by the emergence and development of democracy in this country:
Within the early hours after the victory of their party, Abdullah Gul and Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that they’ll form a government that belongs to the entire nation. But no signs of such a pledge have been detected so far.
It was also said that first of all, the leaders of the party will consult their counterparts in other parties and will ask for their opinion in every issue but until now nothing of such a nature has been observed.
The important national ceremony of transferring the presidential office from Ahmet Necdet Sezer to Abdullah Gul was held in the absence of media and newspapers, attributed to Sezer’s will. After the oath, and in the absence of military officials, Mr. Gul gave his word of honor to defend and preserve the country’s independence, integrity and constitution, people’s unconditional rule and the principals of secularism founded by Ata Turk. Immediately after, in his inaugural speech, beside praising Ata Turk and his liberating revolution and enumerating the advantages of secularism, he tried to assure his rivals of the things he wouldn’t do holding the presidential office, without mentioning the things he would be going to do.
Also the speech didn’t miss the opportunity to emphasize the necessity of pursuing the negotiations in order to join Turkey to E.U. and appreciate of the role of armed forces in safeguarding the country’s territorial integrity.
As some analysts believe, this speech which buttered up secularism deeming it as the prerequisite for the community’s security and peace, may bring about the resentment of insiders and a chasm inside the Islamists’ front. And definitely that’s a price the AKP is unlikely to pay.