aThe 22 years of gaining power, the seizing of all state systems, and serious oppression aimed at reshaping Turkish citizens into Islamascist minions have led Turkey to oppose President Recep Erdogan's authoritarianism. Protests have been underway in cities across the country, including governmental hubs.
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoluh congratulated the detainees on false corruption charges this week. Within a few days, the protest evolved into something bigger – national riots demanding democracy, dignity and freedom. The protest reminded me of many of the 2013 Gezi uprisings, but this time young people who thought they had lost all hope for the future under Erdogan, put endless police violence at risk by visiting the streets and attending public gatherings that are currently prohibited.
One of the slogans that adorn the placards completely encapsulated the emotions. The protest was full of political humor, but everyone knows that what's going on is no joke. The die is cast. Erdogan retreats or otherwise. It is a difficult prospect that it could be “other.” However, the resolve of people to break the wall of fear is unprecedented, and this time, unlike during the Gezi uprising, the main opposition parties are trying to “host” or at least try to do so.
Not only is Imamor the mayor of Turkey's biggest city, but with his widespread popularity, he is also Erdogan's only reliable political rival. Just before his detention on suspicious claims made by the administration – financial corruption, leader of criminal organizations and working with terrorist organizations – Imamor was about to announce his candidacy for the next presidential election.
Some opinions showed that his support was held in 2028, which likely outweighed Erdogan's support in that election. Sources close to Erdogan said the plan was to arrest and trust Imamol and appoint a government trustee to the main opposition party. This has been Erdogan's technique for many years. The opposition mayor (both the Social Democrats and the Kurdish parties) was detained and Imamol was expected to be arrested. In his final video before detention, while wearing his clothes, Imamor gently said he was “decisive” for the Turkish people.
Hundreds of thousands of people filled the city's squares from their first night, using his words as a call to action. The major opposition parties witnessed the scale of the protest, turning the president's candidacy primary into massive political action, urging all citizens to vote in support of Imamall and demonstrate that it is far beyond the administration that supports him. Nearly 15 million voted for Imamomol, securing his position as an official opposition candidate.
The particularity of this story may be confusing. The infiniteness of lies and tricks employed by authoritarian leaders can be difficult to follow. However, what is happening in Türkiye has important lessons for democracies around the world.
As we have seen in some European countries and the US over the past decade, keeping the line side by side with centralist parties is ineffective and may not be stimulated and appropriately counteract the currents of fascism. The “do it again and fail again” strategy has been exhausted in recent years, with the latest example being the US. Clearly, traditional parties – the US Democrats and the European Social Democrats – have failed to exploit the mass political and moral outrage induced by leaders like Erdogan and Donald Trump. The political energy flowing from street politics is so unpredictable that it cannot be accepted by traditional parties, and the public is reluctant to align with a youthful enthusiasm with overused political institutions. So what is the solution?
The old-fashioned progressive opposition is similar to a shipwreck. They are corrupted structures. They have lost everything essential over the past 50 years since cutting off organic ties with progressive sectors of society and collaborating with neoliberal hegemony. They are highly bureaucratic, and as a result, the paralyzed giant cannot keep up with the agility of the new right edge. What's happening in Turkey now is to bring life to life by filming a youthful energy school around this wreck, filming shallow waters and turning the wreck into coral reefs. For several days, youth leaders have been offering speeches at key party meetings and are continuing to negotiate guidelines for joint action. Whenever possible, they will ensure that their anger extends beyond Imamol's arrest. Their existence irreparably changes the spirit of political movement and drives the Social Democrats forward towards life. Through this process, young people learn to navigate the slow moving giants, but the giants adapt to being agile and brave enough to counter the regime's ruthless tactics.
This is the central issue of saving democracy from the rise of authoritarianism, not just for Turkey, but for Europe and beyond soon. Will the youthful energy of the masses be put into the wreckage to turn it into a living creature? What is robust enough to challenge the historic tide bending towards authoritarianism? Turkey will answer this question in the next few days.
