Oran Aims for Opposition Outside Parliament

Prof. Dr. Baskin Oran had entered the elections as an independent candidate for Istanbul's second constituency, but was not elected. He has promised to "be an opposition outside of parliament".

Speaking with bianet, Oran said: "We are going to found committees concerning all the important issues in Turkey. We have more experts and friends with us than anyone else. We are going to have committees about the Political Party Law, the Turkish Penal Code, the Constitution, the Trade Union Law, punishment for spreading discourses of hatred, punishment for discrimination, also at the work place."

These commissions would publish their legislative proposals on the Internet and discuss them at conferences. "We are going to be a shadow opposition. We will show everyone what extra-parliamentary opposition means", said Oran.

No independents from second constituency

Oran had received over 31,000 votes in yesterday's elections, while the pro-Kurdish "Thousand Hope" candidate in the same constituency, Dogan Erbas received over 45,000.

Both would have needed around 60,000 votes to enter parliament. The pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) had first supported Oran's candidacy but later withdrawn its support in favour of Erbas.

Lessons learnt

Oran claims that the greatest lesson from the independent candidate project has been to see how powerful mental moulds are. "This project has taught us that alternative discourses can be created without political parties, but with horizontal organisations."

"Here we have an organisation based on voluntarism, from the bottom up. There is no hierarchy. We never experienced any disorder."

"We have introduced a modern left that no one could have imagined. This image will help the left to get out of its self-imposed ghetto. From Kurds to homosexuals, from Alevis to women, from environmentalists to handicapped people, all oppressed and marginalised people are represented. And those who are oppressed need to defend and represent not only themselves, but also the rights of others. We have taught not only to be on the left, but also to be independent. There is no turning back." (TK/EÜ/AG)