Gülbeyaz Karahasan/revpresse
Une musulmane secoue la politique grecque (Le Figaro 16 mai 2006)
Alexia Kefalas (Le Figaro)
EN QUELQUES JOURS, Gulbeyaz Karahasan est devenue une star de la politique grecque. Cette avocate de 28 ans, grecque de minorité pomaque (slave) musulmane, a été nommée par le chef de l'opposition (Pasok) et président de l'Internationale socialiste, Georges Papandréou, comme candidate aux élections régionales en octobre. Cette annonce a suscité un vif débat en Grèce, sur fond d'interrogations quant à la place à réserver aux musulmans dans un pays où la chrétienté orthodoxe est considérée comme partie intégrante de l'identité nationale. Déjà, une récente polémique autour de la construction d'une mosquée aux pieds de l'Acropole a exacerbé les sensibilités et réveillé les souvenirs douloureux de quatre siècles d'occupation ottomane.
Même si la ministre des Affaires étrangères, Dora Bakogianni, a jugé que la candidature de Mme Karahasan faisait «beaucoup de bruit pour rien», l'annonce n'est pas anodine car c'est la première fois qu'une musulmane est candidate à la «super-préfecture» du nord-est du pays. Là vit une grande partie de la minorité musulmane. Depuis plusieurs années, la Grèce s'inquiète de tentatives de la Turquie de la contrôler. Les ultras nationalistes ont accusé la candidate d'être «un agent de la Turquie». Le préfet conservateur de Thessalonique, Panagiotis Psomiadis, leur a emboîté le pas en déclarant qu'il voulait entendre la candidate reconnaitre «les génocides des Pontiques (minorité grecque de la mer Noire) et des Arméniens» par les troupes de Mustapha Kemal Atatürk au début du siècle dernier. Or, cette candidate est d'origine pomaque, donc appartenant à une minorité bulgarophone tardivement islamisée qui vit des deux côtés de la frontière gréco-bulgare. Les Pomaques sont environ 35 000 du côté grec.
L'évêque orthodoxe de Thessalonique, Mgr Anthimos, a donné de la voix. «Nous ne pouvons être unis avec ceux qui ne partagent pas notre religion, a-t-il dit. La Grèce ne doit pas renier ses origines et sa religion pour jouer un rôle dans l'UE.» Cette position est «inadmissible» pour le président de la commission de la culture et de l'éducation du Parlement européen, Nikolaos Sifounakis : «Le chef de l'Eglise de Grèce confond les époques. Il croit que nous vivons encore sous la dictature où l'Eglise était proche du pouvoir, donc des colonels.»
53% d'opinion favorable
Aujourd'hui, 53% de l'opinion publique grecque est favorable à cette candidature (sondage GPO pour la chaîne Mega), contre 46% contre. Gulbeyaz Karahasan, quant à elle, voudrait qu'on cesse de l'interroger sur sa nationalité. «Je suis grecque, musulmane, femme, mère, avocate et militante au Pasok. Je suis étonnée de l'hystérie générale provoquée par cette annonce. J'aimerais qu'on m'interroge sur mon programme politique.» Georges Papandreou avait été, entre autres, à l'origine du vote de la loi prévoyant la construction d'écoles primaires et secondaires pour les minorités dans le Nord-Est. Malgré cela, les analystes restent sceptiques sur la possibilité d'une victoire du Pasok dans une région qui ne vote pas traditionnellement socialiste.
Gov't on PASOK's Moslem candidate in local elections (Athens News Agency 9 mai 2006)
ATHENS, 9/5/2006 (ANA/MPA)
Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English May 9, 2006
The government does not comment on the PASOK-backed candidates in local elections, alternate government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros stressed on Monday.
"The citizens are those who judge, compare and finally choose," Antonaros stressed in response to questions regarding reactions in ruling New Democracy to PASOK's decision to place a Moslem woman, Gulbeyaz Karahasan, at the head of its election ticket for the Drama-Xanthi-Kavala supraprefecture.
Karahasan, a lawyer by profession, is a member of the Moslem minority in northern Greece and alternate secretary of the PASOK municipal organization of Miki in Xanthi, northeast Greece.
The spokesman, in response to questions on the statements made by Macedonia-Thrace Minister George Kalantzis regarding PASOK's candidate, also underlined that all Greek citizens have the right to vote and run for office, adding that this is beyond dispute and only one in bad faith could question this statement.
In a later statement on Monday, Kalantzis strenuously denied that he had in any way questioned whether Karahasan was Greek.
Regarding PASOK leader George Papandreou's statements "on extreme right views" in the governing party, the alternate government spokesman stated that the democratic character of New Democracy and the government do not need Papandreou's or PASOK's confirmation. He said that ND was the party that re-established democracy in Greece after the 7-year dictatorship and the party that led Greece to the European Union adding that ND is proud of its past, present and of course, its democratic future.
PASOK on its Moslem candidate in local elections (Athens News Agency 9 mai 2006)
ATHENS, 9/5/2006 (ANA/MPA)
Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English May 9, 2006
The candidacy of Gulbeyaz Karahasan, a Moslem woman, for the Drama-Xanthi-Kavala supraprefecture, is particularly symbolic proving that no one in Greece of 2006 can be discriminated against based on sex, religion, age or any other discriminatory factor, main opposition PASOK Spokesman Nikos Athanassakis said on Monday, referring to the party's candidate in the upcoming local elections.
He accused the government of "speaking out of both sides of its mouth, saying one thing publicly, while New Democracy officials, such as Macedonia-Thrace Minister George Kalantzis", according to Athanassakis, "is demanding proof of citizenship regarding Karahasan's status".
In an earlier statement on Monday, Kalantzis strenuously denied that he had in any way questioned whether Karahasan was Greek.
Minister denies questioning Moslem candidate's 'Greekness' (Athens News Agency 9 mai 2006)
ATHENS, 9/5/2006 (ANA/MPA)
Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English May 9, 2006
Macedonia-Thrace Minister George Kalantzis on Monday strenuously denied that he had ever questioned whether the female Moslem lawyer Gul Karahasan chosen by main opposition PASOK as its candidate for the Kavala-Xanthi-Drama superprefecture was Greek.
"I have never disputed the Greekness of Mrs. Karahasan," the minister stressed in response to questions, pointing to the candidate's own statements that she was a "Greek Moslem". At the same time, he predicted that the ticket backed by PASOK would lose the elections.
PASOK's Turkish Candidate Draws Greece into Conflict (Today's Zaman 7 mai 2006)
HASAN HACI ATHENS
Today's Zaman 07 May 2006, Sunday
When the Greek main opposition party, the Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement Party (PASOK), announced Turkish-minority member Ms. Gulbeyaz Karahasan as the candidate for governor of the Drama-Kavala-Iskeche provinces, an enormous conflict took place in the country.
The government and the Church reacted to this choice as Macedonia-Thrace Minister George Kalantzis said, “If Karahasan says ’I’m a Greek’, there won’t be any problem.” Speaking to Cihan News Agency, Karahasan said she is not daunted by the criticisms, and defined the preference of PASOK Leader George Papandreou as a historical decision.
Ahead of the local elections, parties have begun to announce their candidates for the positions of governor and mayor.
The main opposition party PASOK announced Gulbeyaz Karahasan, 27, a member of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority, as the super-governor candidate for the cities of Kavala-Drama-Iskece.
A graduate of law from Athens Law School from the Gokcepinar village of Iskece, Ms. Karahasan is working as a lawyer.
On the list along with Ms. Karahasan that Papandreu announced at a meeting of introduction in Athens, Hristoforo Korifidi was named as the governor candidate for Drama, Dimitri Paputci for Kavala, and Foti Karalidi for Iskece.
Finding herself at the center of discussions after her candidacy was announced, Karahasan evaluated the recent developments for Cihan News Agency.
Karahasan called Papandreou’s preference a “historical and democratic” decision, adding that they will all struggle to obtain the best result in Drama-Kavala-Iskece.
“This is an important preference. I will try to help minorities be represented in local administrations and make their voice heard in the capital when they face problems. I will do my best to help the region develop for everyone,” said Karahasan.
Her reply to the question “Will you be able to garner support from the minorities in Iskece,” was “I’ve received countless congratulatory and supportive messages. I have no doubt about the studies I conduct. I think I will get their support.”
Karahasan said that she will commence the election campaign beginning from next Monday (May 8), and commented on the rumors that she was assigned by the center without the permission of the local administration, saying, “It’s nothing like that; the election commission informed the center after it conducted studies.”
Preferences Reflect the Essence of PASOK
Papandreu’s decision provoked reaction from both inside and outside the party.
As PASOK officials supported Papandreu’s decision, Papandreu came under criticism from the government, the Greek Church and local organizations.
Karahasan, the main opposition leader, said the elections reflect the essential points of PASOK policies.
During the period of time when PASOK was in power, Papandreu said he made an effort to create a mixed atmosphere of different cultures and religions, and he worked hard to keep a fine balance of ties between the Christians and Muslims and minorities to create the notion of an open and democratic Greece.
Female members of the parliament as well as governors from PASOK lend their full support to the idea of proposing a minority member as the candidate. Maria Damanaki, a female deputy from Athens, said that all citizens, both male and female, are equal by law. “This decision is meant to show the whole of Europe the notion of an open and democratic Greece.”
Church and government apprehensive
On the other side, Salonika metropolite Anthimos reacted to the nomination of a minority member as a candidate by severely criticizing PASOK.
Responding to the church’s criticisms, PASOK official and former minister Evangelos Venizelos said: “Politics are open to public. The church should deal with its own business.“ Salonika PASOK deputy Yanis Makriotis said, “This is an appropriate preference” while Salonika mayor cited:” We are all Greeks with the same rights. I have no problem.”
Karahasan’s being a Western Thrace Turk caused reaction on the government side as well.
“If this candidate comes out and says bravely ‘I am a Greek woman’, then there will be no problems,” said Yorgos Kalancis, a Macedonia-Thrace minister.
Upon a question asking,” Would you say the criterion to be a candidate is being a Greek woman?” He responded: “No. It’s something everybody says. If she explains this, there will be no problems. If she becomes a governor, will she stand next to me on the 25 March ceremonies when Greece attained independence from the Ottoman Empire? According to my view, this issue is a national extension apart from the political view. PASOK’s choice is the choice of failure.”
This approach from the government side is seen as worrisome since it reflects the viewpoint of a European Union (EU) member country concerning the participation of people from different religions and national identities in the democratic process.
Elections locales en Grèce: la droite devrait conserver Athènes et Salonique (AFP 15 octobre 2006)
Publié le: 15/10/2006 à 17:47:06 GMT Source : AFP
(...) Dans le nord, en Thrace occidentale, les deux autres super-préfectures du pays devraient sans surprise rester l'une à droite et l'autre à gauche. Dans l'une d'elle le Pasok avait pour la première fois présenté au poste de préfet une candidate issue de la minorité grecque musulmane, Gulbeyaz Karahasan. Selon les sondages cette dernière n'a pas réussi à percer, recueillant autour de 35% des suffrages, loin derrière le préfet sortant Constantinos Tatsis (ND) qui devrait être élu dès le premier tour. (...)