CHP'S PLATFORM - FEARMONGERING AND HANDOUTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001714 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL TU SUBJECT: CHP'S PLATFORM - FEARMONGERING AND HANDOUTS Classified By: Political Counselor Janice G. Weiner for Reasons 1.4 (b, d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY AND COMMENT: Combining fear-mongering and saber-rattling with promises of handouts, the nominally center-left Republican People's Party (CHP) has crafted a platform so audacious it might actually work. The party devotes most of the platform to condemning the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) for undermining the secular nature of the Turkish Republic, subordinating Turkey's interests to those of the US, ineffectively fighting the PKK, and failing to bring prosperity to the masses. Its indictment of AKP is elaborate, but CHP offers few substantive counterproposals outside the social and economic spheres. It has put together an incentive package that promises universal health care, an end to poverty, and a 250 YTL scholarship for every university student, and much more--all without a plan to raise revenues. In the politically uneasy environment following the emotional "Republic Rallies," in support of secularism and against terrorism, CHP's platform--stoking public outrage while promising fool's gold--presents a potent, populist challenge to the AKP. END SUMMARY AND COMMENT. Pro-Secularism: Preserving Ataturk,s Legacy -------------- ¶2. (SBU) CHP's platform concentrates on defending the secular nature of the Turkish state. Likening the danger posed by AKP to an "incubus" attempting to infiltrate the state, CHP praises the millions who rallied against FM Gul's presidential candidacy for their vigilance. CHP stresses that AKP -- having sparred with the military, presidency, judiciary and educational system -- is a repeat offender in picking fights with the state. CHP's alarmist tone appears aimed at shocking the secular electorate into voting. CHP's manifesto also condemns AKP "merchant politicians" for corruption, calls for an end to parliamentary immunity, and rails against AKP's privatizations. Foreign Policy: An End to "Surrenderism" -------------- ¶3. (SBU) In an unsubstantiated rant, CHP accuses AKP of repeatedly bending to the will of the United States in exchange for US support for AKP's domestic agenda. CHP is particularly critical of AKP over its initial support for the US in the 2003 invasion of Iraq and promises to base Turkey's relations with the United States purely on "mutual interests and respect." It also condemns the additional protocol on Cyprus and explicitly vows to offer no further concessions on the issue. CHP declares its intention to move forward with EU accession negotiations but vows not to kowtow as much as AKP has. Terrorism: You,re either with us or the PKK! -------------- ¶4. (C) Repeatedly invoking images of "martyrs" (i.e., fallen soldiers) slain by the PKK, CHP condemns AKP for not showing enough grit in the fight against terrorism and for leaving Turkey to the "mercy and initiative" of the US and EU. CHP lambastes the Iraqi government for failing to comply with its international obligations to pursue PKK terrorists, undermine their support network, and secure the border. CHP even accuses Iraq of directly supporting the PKK. While CHP's manifesto does not outline any plans explicitly, it promises to end terrorism and force the United States and Iraqi government to choose between Turkey and the PKK. (In recent days, CHP leader Deniz Baykal has repeatedly accused AKP of committing not to intervene in northern Iraq in return for U.S. financial assistance in 2003. Baykal's accusation has a kernel of truth: the U.S.-Turkish Financial Agreement signed -- but never brought into effect -- required the U.S. to determine that Turkey had not intervened unilaterally in northern Iraq before each disbursement.) Economic and Social Reform: Dangling Carrots for Everyone -------------- -------------- ANKARA 00001714 002 OF 002 ¶5. (SBU) CHP criticizes the ruling party for neglecting unemployment and social welfare and proposes a series of reform and relief measures. While aspects of the platform seem promising, most appear to be populist tricks intended to win votes rather than encourage sustainable growth. CHP promises to reduce unemployment, now officially at 11%, by 50% within five years, primarily by funding "Work for Youth" projects and implementing a fast growth economic policy promoting exports. It further promises to double agricultural subsidies, reduce fuel oil prices, and relieve farmers of rising debt. On the welfare front, CHP proposes universal health coverage and plans to implement a "zero-hunger" project, entailing transfer payments to poor families. CHP claims it will overhaul the educational system by increasing the basic education requirement to ten years, eliminating the university entrance exam, and channeling more students to vocational schools. Finally, CHP will provide a 250 YTL scholarship to all university students. None of these proposals will be cheap but CHP's platform is conspicuously lean on details of how the party will increase revenues. CHP is not alone in its outrageously populistic economic proposals. The opposition parties are leading the charge in a bidding war to promise unaffordable but vote-getting economic policies. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON