Tension increases

FP's congress today has brought the party to a fork in the road. Whoever may win in the end, things will not be the same again.

       " I have already won since I have broken a 30 year old taboo." said Abdullah Gul upon our question of who will win. Gul has already taken his place in history for announcing his candidacy against Kutan and not withdrawing despite all pressures. Him and his friends have made a reform in the National View movement that had become a tradition for 30 years. They have proved that they could be in this movement without being on Necmettin Erbakan's side. The fact that both Oguzhan Asılturk and Necmettin Erbakan have tried to interfere in the congress process, show that the things going on in FP is not just a mere competition for chairmanship. In the end, this congress has become very important. What is important now is not who will win, but what will happen from now on. The following are the possibilities of what might happen in FP's future:

If Kutan wins:

       1) After the recent change in FP's rules and regulations, the two wings can no longer work together in the party administration. Therefore none of Arınc, Sener, Sahin, Elkatmıs, Ilıcak, Cicek, Aksu, Coskun, Kapusuz, Kahraman, Bas, Ates will be able to be effective in the party.
       2) As a reaction to the reformists wish to renovate the party, FP will become more intraverdant.
       3) Reformists' future in the party may be at risk.
       4) However if the reformists get at least one third of the votes, they can always stay as "hope" within the party.

If Gul wins:

       1) Very expereinced politicans like Oguzhan Asılturk, Fehim Adak will have been outcasted.
       2) The provincial administration will have to renovate themselves.
       3) Erbakan may start a new formation with those who are on his side.