Controversial Businessman Seeks Poor Votes
Young Party (GP), headed by the young businessman Cem Uzan, has become one of the leading parties ahead of the early elections, according to opinion polls.
An opinion poll by Deutsche Bank in August indicated that GP would come out 6th at the November 3 elections, leaving behind parties like prime minister Bulent Ecevit's Democratic Left Party (DSP), center-right Motherland Party (ANAP) and former foreign minister Ismail Cem's New Turkey Party (YTP).
The western telecommunications companies filed a racketeering lawsuit against the Uzan family in a New York court in January pursuing debts owned to them by Uzan's mobile operator Telsim.
Uzan uses a number of mass communication tools, all owned by himself, like television channels, radio stations, web sites and a mobile telephone operator, to promote his party. This intense propaganda is one of the main reasons of the increasing support for Uzan's party.
He bought a party to run in elections
Uzan's GP established on July 10, could not run in elections. For this reason, he "joined" Hasan Celel Guzel's Rebirth Party (YDP) on August 22, annulled the party, and held an extraordinary congress the next day to change the name of YDP to Young Party (GP).
Uzan is in a different province or district each day, rallying support for his party and meeting the public. He promises the public to dismiss the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) and its implementations from the country, improve economy through national dynamics, lift the Value Added Tax (VAT) altogether, and provide free education for everybody, if he comes to power.He will give out land, my vote goes to him
Ahmet Cavit Yildirim, a 60-year-old retired worker who voted for the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) at the previous elections, says he would vote for GP this time. Yildirim finds Uzan's promise of "250 meter squares of land to single people, and 30 years to pay for it," attractive.
According to Yildirim, Cem Uzan is different from the other politicians because he has not been involved in any dirty businesses. "He doesn't need money," says Yildirim. "So he won't steal."
He would not swindle because he has money
The 19-year-old Niyazi Onal Ozakinci, who works for GP's youth group says he joined the party because "GP pays a lot of attention to the youth."
Ozakinci explains that Uzan's promises, such as free education and books, brought him closer to this party. According to Ozakinci, Uzan's money distinguishes him from the other politicians.
He believes that Uzan, being so wealthy, wouldn't have any economic concerns. "Someone who uses his own resources for everything, would not swindle," says Ozakinci. Uzan's being "young and inexperienced" are other qualities that draw Ozakinci to GP.
His promises and style are effective
Rabia Simsek, 28, will not vote for GP, although her family will. She says that her family voted for the Motherland Party at the previous elections. The promises and style of Uzan convinced her family to vote for GP she says: Free books for children, no VAT, no IMF... Simsek's husband and father work as janitors.
Uzan, the young nationalist
Simsek says that her mother and father were also impressed because Uzan "used Allah's name frequently" during his speeches. Her relatives and neighbors who voted for MHP in the past elections will also vote for GP this time.
When Simsek is asked, "why are they giving up on MHP," she answers: "Because for them, Uzan is a younger nationalist."
According to Simsek, the people around her are also proud of the fact that Uzan racketeered Motorola. "Even my 11-year-old son was impressed by Uzan's propaganda on the television," she says.
Despite all these, Simsek says she doesn't find Uzan convincing and thinks that he is acting. "I will vote for the Freedom and Solidarity Party (ODP)" she explains. (HA/NK/EA/NM)