News Scan, 03rd March: Turkey deserves clean politics, says prominent businessman Mustafa Koç

Turkey deserves clean politics, says prominent businessman Mustafa Koç

Mustafa Koç, Chair of the Executive Committee of Koç Holding, has told daily Hürriyet that Turkey and its people deserve the highest standards in democracy and “clean politics, in an integrated and peaceful society.”

Speaking for the first time since the Gezi protests, after which the Koç group became a target of the government especially for opening Divan Hotel to anti-government protesters escaping police violence, Koç said he had no reason to be against the government, while also urging reforms to avoid future problems in Turkish economy.

HURRIYET DAILY NEWS

Turkey’s ruling AKP sees any vote higher than 38.8 at local polls as ‘success’

Turkey’s ruling party has lowered its victory bar for the upcoming local elections, declaring that any vote higher than what it received in the 2009 local elections – 38.8 percent –should be considered a success.

“Let me tell you in advance. Our basis [of success] for the upcoming local elections is the 2009 local elections. That is 38.8 percent. We can get 50 percent of the votes in parliamentary elections that have only two factors. But local elections have at least eight factors,” Hüseyin Çelik, deputy leader and spokesperson of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), told newspaper Ankara bureau chiefs in a visit to Gaziantep over the weekend.

“Let me give you a minor example: We lost Tatvan [a district of Bitlis] to the Peace and Democracy Party [BDP] by only 150 votes in the 2009 local polls. In the same polls, the Saadet [Felicity Party] nominee got 650 votes. In a parliamentary election, the same Saadet would not get this amount of votes,” Çelik said, explaining how local polls differ from parliamentary elections.

There are conflicting public opinion polls with regard to the upcoming local elections as some suggest that the AKP will score higher than 45 percent, while others suggest that the ruling party remain will fall below 40 percent this time. According to Çelik, however, none of these studies depict the real picture.

HURRIYET DAILY NEWS

Turkey’s inflation up 0.43% in February

Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 0.43 percent in February 2014 compared with January while the Domestic Producer Price Index (D-PPI) rose by 1.38 percent in February 2014, Turkey Statistical Authority said on Monday.

According to report released by Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) , in February, the CPI increased by 7.89 percent compared with same month of last year.

In terms of Domestic Producer Price Index (D-PPI), the index increased by 12.40 percent in February 2014 compared with same month of last year.

In terms of CPI , the highest annual increase was recorded as 12.68 percent in the transportation sector while the highest rates of annual increase in D-PPI was in capital goods with 15.98 percent.

On the other hand, Turkey’s February inflation was expected to increase by 0.44 percent, according to a consumer price inflation survey by Anadolu Agency Finance.

AA

‘State of rule of law suspended in Turkey, if not completely eliminated’

“In a state of rule of law, first of all, the governing party itself would not allow such developments and would allow the process of law to work. Instead, the prime minister and the ruling party are resisting the regular course of rule of law,” said Ümit Kardaş, a retired colonel and former military judge.

Kardaş is among 150 academics who signed a manifesto titled “Rule of law suspended.” The manifesto says the AK Party government cannot ignore the corruption allegations just by making up claims of a “parallel state” and placing the blame on the Hizmet movement, which is inspired by Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, for its unlawful practices.

“Prime Minister Erdoğan does not allow the rule of law to work and defends himself just by saying there is a plot to unseat him,” Kardaş said, adding that preventing the judiciary to function is a criminal act, and could lead to the impeachment of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the future.

In addition, President Abdullah Gül approved a law on a contested bill tightening the government’s grip on the judiciary. The new law signed on Feb. 26, which sparked fistfights among politicians debating it in Parliament, will give the Justice Ministry greater control over the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK), an independent body responsible for appointing members of the judiciary.

TODAYS ZAMAN

EP report criticizes Turkey amid corruption scandal

The European Parliament (EP) is gearing up to shower Ankara with criticism over the worsening condition of democratic principles, fundamental human rights and respect to the rule of law in the EU-candidate country, especially amid massive corruption scandals that have shaken the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party).

The draft report, penned by Dutch Christian Democrat Ria Oomen-Ruijten and viewed by Today’s Zaman, says the EP “expresses deep concern at the recent developments in Turkey with regard to allegations of high level corruption,” lamenting on “the removal of the prosecutors and police officers in charge of the original investigations, as this goes against the fundamental principle of an independent judiciary and deeply affects the prospects of credible investigations; [and] regrets [regarding] the serious breakdown of trust between the government, the judiciary, the police and the media.”

The report urged Turkey to show full commitment to democratic principles and refrain from any further interference in the investigation and prosecution of individuals involved in corruption. The draft report will be debated at the Committee on Foreign Affairs on Monday and will be voted at the Plenary later in March.

The EP also recalled Turkey’s commitments to eradicate corruption in particular through the implementation of the majority of recommendations made in the 2005 evaluation reports by the Council of Europe Group of States against Corruption (GRECO). It calls on Turkey “to ensure the good functioning of the Court of Accounts in compliance with applicable international standards and to secure full access to the Court of Accounts’ reports.”

TODAYS ZAMAN

Who still supports Turkey’s AKP?

Not a day passes by without another headline indicating the imminent “fall” of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. And not a day passes by without Erdogan and Justice and Development Party (AKP) officials answering every allegation by referring to the “the ballot box.” Erdogan has turned the upcoming municipal elections into a “vote of confidence” for himself. Daring to ask unpleasant questions to any AKP pundit immediately returns references to the “ballot box” and “national will.”

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan retains his popular base, despite scandals, because most people believe they are still better off with the Justice and Development Party (AKP).

One fact purported is that Erdogan still has public support — verified by the crowds attending his rallies and election predictions. Why and how can the AKP still hold on to its core? Who still supports the AKP is a question I hear frequently from friends all around the world. The answer is simple, with a few intriguing twists.

Let’s first look at the numbers, as they are what matters the most in contemporary Turkey. The most prominent polling agencies concur that the AKP remains the top party in the upcoming municipal elections. Yet, they disagree significantly on what AKP’s vote share will be. The MetroPOLL Strategic and Social Research Center has found that after the Gezi Park protests in July and August 2013, Erdogan’s rallies indeed contributed to an increase in AKP’s popularity.

Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/03/erdogan-akp-support-popularity-turkey-scandal-corruption.html#ixzz2utzOa7K2

Recordati investing USD 50 million in new Turkish plant – ISPAT President

Italy’s Recordati, a leading maker of medicinal products, is expanding its presence in Turkey with a new manufacturing plant. The USD 50 million investment project, implemented in cooperation with the Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey (ISPAT), will significantly increase Recordati’s manufacturing capacity to meet the needs of both the domestic and regional markets.

Announced by ISPAT President Ilker Ayci during a meeting with journalists, Recordati’s new plant in the Cerkezkoy Organized Industrial Zone in Tekirdag province in northwestern Turkey will supply drugs for various therapeutic uses, in particular, cardiovascular and urogenital diseases, whilst creating 130 new jobs.

“ISPAT is proud to have supported this project which stands out with its production capacity, potential and high added-value. It is a step closer to Turkey’s 2023 vision; to be among the world’s top 10 economies and reach an export volume of USD 500 billion. ISPAT takes pride in assisting this investment in our vitally-important pharmaceutical industry”, Ayci said.

With construction scheduled to start in Q1 2014, the plant will reach operational stage by 2017. Having entered the Turkish pharmaceuticals market with the acquisition of local Yeni Ilac in 2008, the Italian company continued to grow in Turkey by taking over another local pharmaceutical company, Dr. F. Frik in 2011.

INVEST.GOV.TR

Indesit to set up new plant in Turkey

The Indesit Company is setting up a new manufacturing plant in Turkey. One of Europe’s leading home appliance makers, the Italian company will build a facility for the production of washing machines in Manisa Organized Industrial Zone next to its refrigerator plant.

To be built at an investment cost of EUR 35 million, the new plant will create employment for 750 people. Slated to reach operational status by October this year, 75 percent of the factory’s annual output will be destined for export markets.

“Turkey, as it is for many other global brands, turned out to be the address of success for Indesit. Its strategic location, political stability, young and dynamic population and a high performing economy make Turkey one of the key countries among Indesit’s global network”, Indesit Company CEO, Marco Milani said at the launch ceremony. Indesit’s total investments in Turkey during the last 20 years amount to EUR 150 million, Milani noted.

INVEST.GOV.TR

03.03.2014

This is a news-scan from major Turkish papers and internet sites. However, we do not verify above stories neither do we vouch for their accuracy.