Turkey's Change Movement
Encyclopedia
The Movement for Change in Turkey, or TDH , is a Turkish political movement founded in 2009 under the leadership of Mustafa Sarıgül
. It is currently in the process of organizing as a political party. After a period in the DSP
, Sarıgül established the TDH in order to challenge the domination of the Turkish centre-left by the CHP
, whose leader Deniz Baykal
had withstood a leadership challenge by Sarıgül in 2005. The movement describes itself as social democratic and lists among its policy goals reducing Turkey's rich/poor gap, promoting pluralism, and empowering women and youth. The movement also emphasizes democratizing the country's political system and moving forward reforms to bring the country in line with EU norms
. Opinion polls have given the TDH from 13% to 16% of the support of the electorate. The TDH has attracted the support of CHP veterans Hikmet Çetin
and Onur Kumbaracıbaşı, both former deputy prime ministers, and former ambassador Faruk Loğoğlu. It reportedly has as many as 670,000 volunteers. Journalists have speculated that the TDH could mobilize female and younger voters, reconnect with the CHP's erstwhile supporters in the Alevi
and Kurdish
communities and, by toning down the CHP's strident secularism, cut into the base of the ruling conservative AK Party
.
In May 2010, rivalry between the CHP and TDH intensified as the CHP's Önder Sav accused Sarıgül of involvement in the publication of the video on YouTube that prompted Deniz Baykal
's resignation as CHP leader, and also accused him of paying a hitman to try to kill Baykal. Sarıgül denied both allegations and has promised to seek legal redress against Sav.
Following Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu
's succession to CHP's leadership in 2010, Sarıgül announced that this created an opportunity for change in the CHP, and that he would not form a new party. The announcement took other leaders of the TDH by surprise.
Mustafa Sarigül
Mustafa Sarıgül , is the mayor of the Şişli district in Istanbul, where he was elected as the candidate of Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi for the past two terms....
. It is currently in the process of organizing as a political party. After a period in the DSP
Democratic Left Party (Turkey)
The Democratic Left Party is a Turkish political party founded on November 14, 1985, by Rahşan Ecevit.-1985-1999:The DSP, a social democratic oriented party, was registered on November 14, 1985 by Rahşan Ecevit, wife of Bülent Ecevit, as he was banned from political life after the 1980 coup...
, Sarıgül established the TDH in order to challenge the domination of the Turkish centre-left by the CHP
Republican People's Party (Turkey)
The Republican People's Party is a centre-left Kemalist political party in Turkey. It is the oldest political party of Turkey and is currently Main Opposition in the Grand National Assembly. The Republican People's Party describes itself as "a modern social-democratic party, which is faithful to...
, whose leader Deniz Baykal
Deniz Baykal
Deniz Baykal is a Turkish politician. He was a long-time leader of the Republican People's Party .-Biography:...
had withstood a leadership challenge by Sarıgül in 2005. The movement describes itself as social democratic and lists among its policy goals reducing Turkey's rich/poor gap, promoting pluralism, and empowering women and youth. The movement also emphasizes democratizing the country's political system and moving forward reforms to bring the country in line with EU norms
Accession of Turkey to the European Union
Turkey's application to accede to the European Union was made on 14 April 1987. Turkey has been an associate member of the European Union and its predecessors since 1963...
. Opinion polls have given the TDH from 13% to 16% of the support of the electorate. The TDH has attracted the support of CHP veterans Hikmet Çetin
Hikmet Çetin
Hikmet Çetin is a Turkish politician former minister of foreign affairs and was leader of the Republican People's Party for a short time. He served also as the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly....
and Onur Kumbaracıbaşı, both former deputy prime ministers, and former ambassador Faruk Loğoğlu. It reportedly has as many as 670,000 volunteers. Journalists have speculated that the TDH could mobilize female and younger voters, reconnect with the CHP's erstwhile supporters in the Alevi
Alevi
The Alevi are a religious and cultural community, primarily in Turkey, constituting probably more than 15 million people....
and Kurdish
Kurds in Turkey
Ethnic Kurds compose a significant portion of the population in Turkey . Unlike the Turks, the Kurds speak an Indo-European language...
communities and, by toning down the CHP's strident secularism, cut into the base of the ruling conservative AK Party
Justice and Development Party (Turkey)
The Justice and Development Party , abbreviated JDP in English and AK PARTİ or AKP in Turkish, is a centre-right political party in Turkey. The party is the largest in Turkey, with 327 members of parliament...
.
In May 2010, rivalry between the CHP and TDH intensified as the CHP's Önder Sav accused Sarıgül of involvement in the publication of the video on YouTube that prompted Deniz Baykal
Deniz Baykal
Deniz Baykal is a Turkish politician. He was a long-time leader of the Republican People's Party .-Biography:...
's resignation as CHP leader, and also accused him of paying a hitman to try to kill Baykal. Sarıgül denied both allegations and has promised to seek legal redress against Sav.
Following Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu
Kemal Kiliçdaroglu
Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu is a Turkish social democrat politician. He is currently leader of the Republican People's Party and Leader of the Main Opposition in Turkey. He has been the Member of Parliament for İstanbul since 2002....
's succession to CHP's leadership in 2010, Sarıgül announced that this created an opportunity for change in the CHP, and that he would not form a new party. The announcement took other leaders of the TDH by surprise.