Sweden’s NATO Accession Protocol was signed by AKP President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and sent to the Turkish Grand National Assembly last month. However, it languished in AKP-MHP dominated Foreign Affairs Committee, the reasons for which were not clearly understood. AKP-MHP’s docile deputies usually approve everything that their leader send down to them. While PA Turkey covered explanations that Erdogan was under pressure from Islamists constituencies not to do any favors to US and EU, which support Israel in the Gaza conflict, there were unconfirmed rumors circulating as late as last week, he will finally give the go-ahead to parliamentary ratification after the budget marathon which ends on 20th of December.
It now seems the main obstacle is the objections from his ally Bahceli. His statements on the subject may mean that Swedish membership may be delayed indefinitely.
Devlet Bahçeli, partner of the AKP-led People’s Alliance and Chairman of the MHP, explained his party’s attitude towards Sweden as follows: “Are we going to say this is okay just because the USA wants it and is blackmailing us about the F-16? Sweden is the PKK’s lair in Europe. The PKK headquarters in Mount Kandil “and Stockholm are one and the same,” he said.
In his Friday diatribe, MHP leader pointed to Israel’s attacks on Palestine and said, “If the way for Netanyahu to be tried in the Hague is opened, we will say yes to Sweden’s NATO membership.”
In the relevant part of the interview he gave to TürkGün newspaper, which is close to his party, Bahçeli said the following when asked “How do you view Sweden becoming a member of NATO?”
“Of course, we are cold towards Sweden’s entry into NATO. For us, insulting our Holy Book is the same as oppressing Muslims. If a permanent peace environment is established between Israel and Palestine, if an independent Palestinian state with territorial integrity is recognized within the 1967 borders, if Israel agrees to pay compensation and if the way for Netanyahu to be tried in The Hague is cleared, we say yes to Sweden’s NATO membership.
“With the accession of Norway, the number of NATO member countries will increase to 31. In our opinion, Sweden’s membership in NATO is an academic detail. One of the top three powers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is Turkey.” “We resolutely state that those awaiting Sweden’s membership also have prior tasks that must be fulfilled.”
Bahceli also defied Erdogan’s plan to reduce the ‘50%+1’ threshold in presidential elections
Bahçeli responded to the question, “Is there a change in your opinion about the 50%+1 percent voting bar in the presidential election to be reduced?” (which would allow the leading candidate to be elected in a single-round contest) as follows:
“There is no change in our policy. The 50%+1 percent is the key to the Presidential Government System. It is the basis of legitimacy of the elected president. 50+1 percent is the strong expression and manifestation of the national will. Our country should not be fooled by such frivolous discussions.”
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