Rufiz Hafizoglu, Trend News Middle East Desk Head
Turkey has seen the mass retirement of its politicians in recent years. Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Deniz Baykal, who was considered the main Turkish opposition leader, and who was known for his strong statements against the government, has now retired. This has opened the playing field for Turkish political circles.
No one doubted that Baykal would resign a hidden camera had been placed in his bedroom.
Some saw his retirement as part of a "blood war" between the government and the opposition. Fatullah Gulen, an imam who was forced to leave the country due to his political views, and later refused an invitation from the ruling Justice and Development Part (AKP) to reenter the country, was reportedly behind the spreading of the video.
However, before his resignation, Baykal refuted Gulen's involvement in the incident, adding that they had had a telephone conversation about the tape.
The opposition leader's resignation could be met with either tears or applause, but no doubt has made the Turkish public think seriously.
It is interesting that Baykal did not deny the incident, claiming that it was "an act of sabotage" against him by the ruling circles.
In response to the allegations, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan rejected accusations of the Turkish government's involvement in Baykal's resignation, expressing serious surprise.
"Discussions of personal issues sicken our morality," Erdogan said.
Unlike other political parties, the CHP opposes amending the constitution, as well as making reforms in the country, specifically a democratic solution to the Kurdish problem.
Only one year is left before the next parliamentary elections in Turkey, and the only serious rival to the authorities was the CHP.
Following Baykal's resignation, it is unclear who will lead the party.
Many have proposed Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who has considerable experience in politics, but preference was then given to Cevdet Selvi.
Will the new leader be a worthy successor of Baykal given that only was one year is left before the next parliamentary elections?
Baykal's resignation, which was a serious blow to the Turkish opposition, cast a shadow over the power of the ex-opposition leader.
The AKP must now prove its innocence in the case.
This was the first blow to the opposition at the war which broke out in Turkey's political arena. Further developments are hardly to be awaited for along time.
Perhaps, ' new Ottomans' revenged with this for once executed Adnan Menderes, deported Gulen, 'national theorist' Necmeddin Erdogan and Merve Kavakci, who was drove with the words" Get out! " from the Turkish Parliament, which is considered as one of the most democratic parliaments in the world.
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