Eid Al-Adha Parties' Visit in Turkey: A Political Review
Parties plan Eid al-Adha political tours
Turkey's political landscape transforms as parties prepare for Eid al-Adha visits on June 7. The main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), decided against traditional celebrations, protesting the imprisonment of municipal officials such as Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.
Contrastingly, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) will be hosting delegations from a range of parties, including the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), Free Cause Party (HÜDA PAR), Motherland Party, Democratic Left Party (DSP), Great Unity Party (BBP), İYİ (Good) Party, Patriotic Party, and New Path Party.
Notably absent from the AKP's program are the CHP, Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA Party), and Future Party. The MHP, diverging from previous years, will include the DEM Party in its Eid visits. However, they will not visit the İYİ Party, instead, both parties will exchange visits with other common allies.
The DEM Party is expected to continue holiday visits with other parties, while the Future Party will receive delegations from the AKP, Felicity Party, DEVA Party, and New Welfare Party (YRP). The İYİ Party, excluding the MHP and DEM Party from its Eid program, will welcome an AKP delegation.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will spend Eid in Istanbul with his family, MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli in Ankara, İYİ Party leader Müsavat Dervişoğlu in Ordu, and CHP leader Özgür Özel in Manisa.
This year's Eid visits take place against the backdrop of the government's "terror-free Türkiye" initiative, which encourages peace and unity in the country [1]. The rare dialogue between the MHP and the DEM Party is seen as a product of this initiative, while the İYİ Party remains the only major parliamentary party opposed to the process [2].
Insight: The tradition of Eid al-Adha visits offers political parties an opportunity to engage in dialogue, discuss key issues, and foster a sense of unity and cooperation among parties. However, not all parties participate due to various reasons, as demonstrated by the CHP's decision to withdraw from the celebrations [3].
[1] Source: Anadolu Agency (https://www.aa.com.tr/en/)[2] Source: Hurriyet Daily News (https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/)[3] Source: Al-Monitor (https://www.al-monitor.com/)[4] Source: HDK Faith and Beliefs Commission (http://www.hdk.org.tr/)
Policy-and-legislation discussions and collaborations might be on the agenda during Eid al-Adha visits among political parties in Turkey, with the lack of CHP's participation indicating disagreement on some key issues, particularly the imprisonment of municipal officials like Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. Meanwhile, the politics of alliance and opposition are evident as parties choose to collaborate, exclude, or exchange visits, such as the MHP including the DEM Party in their Eid visits but not the İYİ Party. General-news coverage highlights the significance of these visits in promoting dialogue and fostering unity, while also revealing dissenting views within the political landscape, such as the İYİ Party's opposition to the government's "terror-free Türkiye" initiative.
