FLASH
Shkruar nga Jonas Roth
Just three years ago, Kemal Kilicdaroglu was considered the most dangerous opponent of the Turkish president, today he is being involved in his dark game. For all Turks who still hope for change, this is bad news…
The founder of the Turkish state, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, would probably be turning in his grave if he saw what is happening these days with his CHP party: uniformed police are attacking the party headquarters with rubber batons and tear gas. The party chairman is being dragged out into the streets. Meanwhile, his successor is being handed the leadership of the most important opposition party in Turkey through a controversial court decision.
The dramatic events of recent days in Turkey show once again how ruthlessly President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is turning his country into an autocracy. It is true that it was not Erdogan himself who dismissed the leader of the CHP, Özgür Özel, and installed Kemal Kilicdaroglu as his successor; a court did this on his behalf. But the Turkish judiciary has long since become a tool of this system specially built for Erdogan. With the latest move against the CHP, the president is now creating an opposition of his own choosing.
For many experts, it is clear what Erdogan's goal is: he wants to organize early elections to bypass the constitutional term limit and stay at the helm of Turkey for a few more years. The weaker the opposition, the better for him. A central role in this process is being taken by the new-old CHP chairman, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who has transformed from Erdogan's fiercest opponent into a convinced enforcer of his interests.
CHP risks division
In 2023 alone, Kilicdaroglu was a symbol of hope for millions of Turks. Due to his ambiguous political line, his presidential candidacy was controversial, but many believed that only he could defeat Erdogan in the elections. However, Kilicdaroglu, who had failed to win a single election during his 13 years at the helm of the CHP, lost again this time. As a result, at the party congress in November 2023, he was replaced as chairman. CHP delegates elected Özgür Özel in his place, who only a year later led the party to several important victories in local elections.
But according to Turkish justice, Özel had bribed delegates to secure the party leadership. For this reason, the judges have now removed him from office and returned it to Kilicdaroglu. They relied on the law on political parties, according to which the decisions of party bodies can be annulled in the event of serious irregularities. Of course, it is extremely problematic for the courts in a democracy to decide on personal matters within political parties. Equally problematic is the fact that Kemal Kilicdaroglu is participating in this rotten game.
The 77-year-old did not criticize either the court decision or the police raid on the party headquarters. Instead, he wrote in pathetic tones on social media: “No one should worry, we will keep our party away from these debates and continue our march to power.” But Kilicdaroglu himself should understand that he is not doing his party any favors. Many CHP voters will no longer see him as a credible politician, but as a puppet of Erdogan.
Even within the party, Kilicdaroglu will hardly succeed in bringing calm and stability. On the contrary, there is a risk of the CHP splitting. A divided opposition will find it even more difficult to defeat Erdogan and his AKP in the elections. For all those Turks who have not yet lost faith in democratic change in their country, this is bad news. Erdogan's system has become even stronger and more resistant.
However, the situation is not at all favorable for Erdogan himself. The economic situation is dire, while the consequences of the war with Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz are hitting Turkey hard. State banks are selling billions in foreign currency every week to stabilize the Turkish lira. Already, many Turks can barely make ends meet. If Erdogan fails to solve these problems, then perhaps even a weak opposition will not be enough to win the elections. /Adapted from NZZ /
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