MHP and tapes: Who does this and why?

Hüseyin Gülerce

We are all curious about the answers to two questions concerning sex tapes that were made public, after which 10 senior Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) members were forced to resign: Who did this? And why? For a proper answer, we have to consider the only available precedent. The first precedent and example of a sex tape scandal that had political consequences was the resignation of Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal from the party chairmanship.

Let us continue with our example. Who did this to the CHP? An overwhelming majority of those in CHP circles, including Baykal, pointed to the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) as the actor responsible for the conspiracy. But it did not make any sense at all because an action is evaluated by its results. The replacement of Baykal with Kılıçdaroğlu is not something that the AK Party would seek by relying on illegal and unethical actions that could possibly become extensively harmful for its public image. Besides, the change in the CHP was not limited to the transfer of chairmanship; Baykal's team, including Önder Sav, also stepped down. The CHP has undergone a huge process of transformation. We are now talking about a new CHP. So the tape scandal generated a new CHP.

Let us try to find an answer to the first question: Who is doing this? Who is interested in political engineering in the CHP? The candidacy of Ergenekon suspects in the parliamentary elections may give some clues. The CHP does not need these Ergenekon suspects in order to change its outlook. Quite the contrary, the presence of these candidates contradicts the image of the new CHP. My answer to this question is clear: the pro-guardianship actors who were defeated in the referendum.

But why are they doing this? The era of military interventions is over. Some circles are seeking to design a CHP that is able to compete with the AK Party and attract the support of different social segments and groups. It is already obvious that the AK Party will be the winner of the upcoming election. However, the CHP will be fortified after the election in order and create a strong alternative as a main opposition party. A change of leadership is possible.

Then who is staging the tape smear campaign against the MHP?

There is no place for the MHP in the new environment in which the CHP is fortified. Therefore, whoever is redesigning the CHP is responsible for the smear campaign against the MHP.

It is evident that the execution of the tape scandals to bring down the CHP and the MHP were fairly professional. The orchestration of this campaign requires extensive preparations, wiretapping and intelligence, as well as managing flow of information. Then there is the recording the footage, and observing the best timing for each stage of the plot in order to ensure the most influential outcome. The most heinous footage was publicized after the finalization of the MHP deputy candidate list. The release of the tapes were a form of Chinese torture, conducted without any remorse and ethical considerations in an attempt to ensure the resignation of 10 senior MHP members.

Devlet Bahçeli would not have insisted on making false accusations implying that the Gülen movement was responsible for the scandal if he had not lost temper. He should have known that a movement comprised of millions of people would not have resorted to such an immoral action and dishonest attempt. The people seeking global justice would not have any consideration for a party's election performance and whether it will be able to pass the election threshold. The AK Party would not consider this as well. A party expecting the support of almost 50 percent of the voters in the election would not take such a suicidal risk. Had the “Transoceanic” actors or the AK Party actually done this, the state institutions and other relevant actors would have revealed the involvement of those responsible using the technology at their disposal; in such a case, they would not have shown any hesitation to publicize such a connection. Those who could do this professionally are actually easy to spot. This is the only method that illegal circles within the state resort to in order to blackmail. For this reason, the responsible actors should be sought within the circles desiring to preserve the guardianship regime.

Whoever played with the CHP is now playing with the MHP. Baykal was the target in the CHP, and the target in the MHP is Bahçeli. There are still 17 days left until the election. This means that the campaign against the MHP is not over yet. Reports indicate the existence of other tapes. This means that some other shocking tapes may be publicized. The MHP may be forced to withdraw from the election. In such a case, will the angry MHP voters support the AK Party or the CHP?

The plot is extremely grave; those who favor further democratization should abort it.

Published on Today's Zaman, 24 May 2011, Tuesday