Mustafa Kaya: "The last congress in opposition"

Mustafa Kaya: "The last congress in opposition"
Date: 30.10.2022 15:00

Milli Gazete columnist Mustafa Kaya writes on Saadet Party's Grand Congress. Here is the full article.

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Organizations formed by a group in order to come to power and to be active in the administration of the country are called political parties. Every country has established political parties according to their own traditions and cultures, especially with the change of administration styles in the 19th century. Sometimes, political parties were established in which a certain group, perhaps the political elite, or, as is often seen in our country, a certain view dominates. These parties are also often referred to as cadre or litigation parties. On the other hand, there are parties that aspire to the vote of all the voters and try to get votes from every segment and everyone in the society. Sometimes, parties that embody these two approaches in the same body are also encountered. Or, as a "lead party", there are also parties that try to increase their votes with an encompassing language in order to have a place in the preferences of voters who think differently.
 
In addition, some ruling parties resort to a way of confronting the electorate with an attitude such as "we made some promises to you in the last elections, we could not fulfill most of them, but now if you support us, we can try again together". This is where the persuasiveness of those political parties comes into play. But it seems as if the political culture awareness of the society is also an important issue at this point.
 
Voters, who tend to see the elections as a means of service, can vote for a particular party "if a road is built or promised to be built in their village". Or, a certain part of the society may try to make concessions from the political power by turning the elections into an opportunity. To the extent that these demands are legitimate, they do not actually pose a problem. Now, the issue of whether a political party facing such a reality is a lawsuit party or a party that appeals to all segments may seem a bit confusing to the electorate, given the pragmatist approach of the electorate. At this very point, lawsuit parties that maximally match their ideals with these legitimate demands, can have the opportunity to expand their sphere of influence in the society.
 
It has been a topic that has been talked about for a long time in the West that political parties no longer receive much support from the public. Perhaps most of the time, politics is talked about only during election periods. Political polarization is the main problem in countries such as Turkey, where participation rates are quite good compared to the West. Political debates can cause hostility between individuals and even family members in some societies. People may become alienated from politics because of political parties and their policies, which can threaten national unity and sometimes lead to social corruption and even the spread of corruption.
 
Perhaps it can be interpreted as the right-wing parties in France no longer calling themselves "political parties", but taking names such as "movement", "unity" or "center" and trying to produce an alternative to this alienated from politics of the electorate. However, party memberships and party structures are still growing.
 
The increase in the number of party memberships and the fact that people resort to this path may be due to the fact that individuals feel weak in the face of the system. They may try to protect themselves in a way with their party memberships. But the real issue is that the growing parties may even make their members feel not an important part of the whole, but even more powerless in the face of this magnificence. For example, employees in large commercial companies may feel powerless in the face of the system and their ideas are not valued. If the members think that there is no opportunity to change or renew the policies, they may not want to be involved in this process. As a solution to this, political parties try to close this gap by organizing at various levels and reducing participation in the political process to the lower levels of the society.
 
It will provide the opportunity for political parties to come together with the representatives of the masses at least once a year with a large-participation meeting and to question the general policies. It is possible, however, to discuss policies at local levels as well. But it is important in the process of bringing proposals from the local to the center and handling them with a wider perspective and ultimately determining party policies. These meetings, which are called "conferences" in Europe, that is, the annual conference of the parties, are organized as conventions in the United States, and can usually last for a few days. In these meetings, where the speech of the chairman is decisive, other activities are also organized and organizations where the participants can express themselves are planned.
 
In our country, camp arrangements by political parties from time to time can be considered as an opportunity to listen to their demands from the grassroots. But the meetings, which are legally required to be held for less than two years and not more than three years, and which are called ordinary congresses, enable more party members to come together and to take part in the decision-making processes with the election of the party's management cadres. But it mostly means that the parties come together with their lower echelons and re-adopt the policies followed.
 
Classically, party congresses are aimed to be a show of unity and solidarity and to be the scene of enthusiasm. If the party principles and the policies of the party to be implemented in the upcoming period can be explained to the base and their support can be obtained, the congress will be successful. It is accepted that the enthusiasm stems from this consensus.
 
A lawsuit party like Saadet Party, on the other hand, frequently experiences a small model of the congress, as regular provincial and district meetings and neighborhood organizations come together regularly, not only during election periods but also every month of the year. Perhaps the most important aspect of the general congress is that the party has an extrovert aspect. The participation, excitement and unity of the delegates will definitely have a positive effect on the voters. As a member of a movement that has hundreds of years of intellectual history and more than fifty years of experience, it is very important for them to be able to convey their behavior and political views to the outside.
 
Members of Saadet Party, who have already contributed to the political past of this country for half a century, should constantly remind themselves that they are honored with their past. It is useful to constantly remind both its members and other voters that this movement, which has always contributed to the benefit and development of this country when it was in power, has not had a single black mark in its successful past, has not been deceived by anyone and has not deceived anyone.
 
Of course, it is important that the members of Saadet Party explain the case of Milli Görüş to large audiences. In addition, the fact that this case is in power and that the negativities experienced in all areas can be eliminated should be a priority target. As the slogan of the congress, it has been clearly stated that Saadet Party should be in the power of the nation with a determined emphasis. With its cadres and political experience, the Saadet Party's being a part of the government in the next period will be in favor of everyone and everyone who has expectations from this party in the field of morality and spirituality. The congress of a political party that will take part in the new government is important for everyone, at least in terms of carrying the gains made in the current ruling period to a higher level.
 
In addition to the gains, the way to revive the lost values ​​also passes through this congress. Unfortunately, the power of power has caused the transformation of many of the religious people who are expected to affect the least. This congress of Saadet Party is very important to stop this trend. Despite all kinds of discrediting efforts, the effort put forth will definitely yield results. Both the studies carried out in the pre-congress period, the studies shared with the public during the preparation of the congress, and the messages given for the future show strong signs that this congress will be the last congress of Saadet Party in opposition.
 
I hope that this congress, which is expected to turn into a feast with the contribution of people from all over Turkey, will bring blessings for our country, our nation, our geography, the Islamic world and all humanity.

YEREL HABERLER

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