TURKEY: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES UPCOMING LOCAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001446

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/11/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES UPCOMING LOCAL
ELECTIONS WITH OPPOSITION ANAP LEADER NAS


(U) Classified by Ambassador Eric Edelman. Reason 1.4 (b,d).



1. (C) Summary: In a March 2 meeting, Ambassador solicited
opposition Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Nesrin Nas's views
on March 28 local elections. Throughout the discussion, Nas
showed amazingly little concern for the poor showing she
admitted her party would have, and offered no strategy for
the party's revival. End Summary.



2. (C) During a lengthy monologue on local elections, newly
installed ANAP Party leader Nas made the following points, as
she indicated ANAP was doomed to a repeat of the party's last
election cycle disaster:


- Faced with certain failure on March 28, ANAP is trying to
restructure "from scratch";


- In the last election, Justice and Development Party (AKP)
candidates gave voters hope that a solution to Turkey's
macroeconomic problems could be found. Until a rival
political party convinces voters it can reverse Turkey's
deteriorating standard of living, AK will remain in power.
ANAP has not found the solution;


- AKP's success in the municipal elections will crush the
main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP),turning
Turkey into a one political party state. Election results



3. (C) Dodging questions about ANAP's election strategy, Nas
had surprisingly little hope and even less strategy for her
party's revival, admitting "We're all shocked. No one has
the answers." When pressed to discuss target voter bases or
to explain how her party might go about winning back its AKP
defectors, she surrendered: "We're staying away from
Anatolia, we don't have a chance".



4. (C) The political landscape after AKPs presumed election
landslide, predicts Nas, will be marked by intense pressure
from new mayors for funds to follow through on their campaign
promises. "So far AK has neglected to step forward on
economic issues. They won't be able to avoid it after the
elections."



5. (C) COMMENT: Nesrin Nas continues to demonstrate her
political ineptitude and to underscore how out of touch ANAP
has become with Anatolia. END COMMENT.
EDELMAN