A Technocrats Cabinet, Unconvincing

Proposals of replacing the ruling cabinet with a technocrats government, in order to overcome the Nationalist Action Partys (MHP) unwillingness in implementing the IMF backed austerity programme rebuffed. Political analysts comment on the issue.

İstanbul

Turkey heatedly debates two intermingled questions on the county's agenda

-One of the questions relates to the cabinet's crisisis if the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) has been trapped between the IMF's requests and its grassroots' demands.

-The second one, publicly raised by daily Hurriyet columnist, Serdar Turgut, urges for replacing the present coalition government with a "techcnocrats" cabinet in order to implement the IMF backed economic recovery programme.

BIA News Centre interviewed various opinion makers from different inclinations on what the debate is all about...

Saruhan Oluç, ÖDP (Freedom and Solidarity Party): "The proposal aims at preventing a 3rd wave of financial crisis"

Saruhan Oluç, Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP) deputy chair is of the opinion that domestic forces who strongly support the implementation of the IMF programme are seeking for further pressure on the MHP: "If the outcome of the debate itself analysed it might be observed that the proposal is aimed at exerting extra pressure on the MHP with an eye on preventing a 3rd wave of financial crisis."

Tanil Bora, Political Analyst: "Conditions yet unripe but the debate itself might pave the way to such takeover."

According to Tanil Bora: "The conditions for a "technocratic" cabinet seems yet unripe. Yet all that debate itself might pave the way towards that prospect." Bora's opinion is that the debate is initiated in order to probe into the degree of public reaction for such formula.

Mustafa Sönmez, Economist: "It's to spread public fears "

Economist Sönmez relates the debate with driving the country in a one way road: "Very probably through the debate some powers convey a message: 'either all are convinced of the necessity of this technocrats government or the country will drift away in prospective bigger crises.'

"Thus they are aiming at spreading public fears. Either the government survives or a takeover is on the agenda. In fact, this suits the government's interests. But it'a dirty game and a dangerous gamble."

Hüseyin Hasançebi, Political Analyst: "The capitalists are urging for elimination of the parliament."

According to Çebi, : "Although, the parliamentary system in Turkey is already pushed aside and has been taken completely under the domination of the capitalist class. Eliminating the parliament is still one of the major targets of powerful capitalists."

Iskender Beyhan, EMEP: "The technocrats cabinet is already ruling..."

Iskender Beyhan, Labour's Party Istanbul branch chair observes that: "The ruling government has already become a technocrats cabinet. The parliament has turned into a sort of a notary for former World Bank official Kemal Dervis and his team. Never in Turkey's history have so many laws been against public good passed by parliament in such a short period and that already means a technocrats cabinet."

Ümit Firat: "I want a technocrats parliament..."

Ümit Firat, political analyst, however challenges other analysts for his support for a technocratic parliament though with particular twist on reconstituting the country's political system: "I basically want a democratic technocrats parliament. Its form might be debated but I believe a technocratic parliament overseen by president Sezer might have the will and power to make necessary amendments in the laws and in the constitution, and dissolve itself as soon as these are endorsed by a referendum. Turkey needs a reform process."