Has populism declined in Türkiye?

According to the international group Tasnim news agency, the heavy defeat of the Justice and Development Party in the recent elections in Turkey has attracted the attention of many political experts and analysts.

Meanwhile, foreign media have also zoomed in on the failure of Akparty or the ruling party of Turkey and are looking for an answer to this question. : Is there a new chapter in Turkish politics? In order to find the answer to this question, the English-language Economist magazine asked the mayor of Istanbul, Akram Imamoglu, to write a note on this matter. which can defeat Erdogan or any other candidate of the Justice and Development Party in the Turkish presidential election in 2028.

After the victory of Imamoglu in Istanbul and also the victory of Mansour Yovas in Ankara, many Turkish political analysts put forward the view that if in May 1402, instead of Kilicdaroglu, Imamoglu would have competed with Erdogan. He would definitely win and now Erdogan was resting and playing with his grandchildren. /Uploaded/Image/1403/01/24/1403012410041932129795064.jpg”/>
In the following note, Imamoglu addressed the issue of what, from his point of view, the defeat of Erdogan and the ruling party means, and the victory of the opposition, Turkey What direction will it take?

What happened in Turkey on March 31?
Election results The event held on March 31 is a turning point in Turkish history. Considering that most of the country’s municipalities have been entrusted by the voters to the political opposition, Turkey no longer has to be governed by only one political discourse. Now our country is not devoid of different political options and we have a solution and an alternative that has received high votes from the people. After the recent elections, Turkey has once again stepped on the path of democracy and the will of the people has been manifested. Despite the unequal conditions and unfair competition, especially in the allocation of government resources to the ruling party and its candidates and Heavy government control over the media won the opposition People’s Republic Party (CHP), of which I am a member.

In Istanbul, government officials and the president actively campaigned to support my opponent in the municipal elections. But despite all this, people voted for us and we won. Although the other opposition parties that were with us in last year’s elections left our coalition this time, we still won. This victory showed that the real power of democratic transformation in Turkey. It is in the hands of the people. It was a vote of confidence in a new form of urban management that we called the “Istanbul Model”. This model is based on important concepts such as equality and civil participation in the democratic process and prioritizes more effective economic policies and social development at the local level.

On March 31, our voters no Not only in Istanbul and its suburbs, but throughout Turkey, they elected social democratic candidates and redrew a new map of the country’s political and party composition. Their message is clear. From now on, they want to see a Turkey governed by law and democracy.

They reject divisive policies and authoritarianism. They envision a united Turkey, not a Turkey torn apart by polarization.

Furthermore, the result of the recent election was a loud protest against the deepening of the economic crisis. With their vote, the people of Turkey protested against the increasing inflation, unemployment and rising living costs.

The current government, which has been in power for 22 years, has seen a loss of social base and alienation from key vote groups. Donors have included young people, women, workers and retirees.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party suffered heavy defeats in big cities, and their support was mainly concentrated in rural areas. On the contrary, our party, the People’s Republic Party, gained unprecedented support in Central and Eastern Anatolia, which indicates a change in the political dynamics throughout Turkey.

I believe that the result of the municipal elections will bring new energy. It has injected into the body of the democratic opposition. Exactly one year ago, voters supported Mr. Erdogan in the presidential election. Since then, our party has made changes in leadership and begun a process to fundamentally revise its program. The people of Türkiye have recognized this change of direction and welcomed it. They have a strong desire for change.

The election also showed that citizens can form much stronger coalitions than political elites. Even if political parties and leaders lose hope in democracy, citizens are working and do not despair. As Turkish democrats, we are committed to expanding this popular unity. The future of Turkish democracy and the prosperity of this country depends on the continued hope and trust of the people.

In the last two decades, we have witnessed a massive crisis in democracy and authoritarian governments have come to power all over the world. These developments caused by populism and polarization have raised global uncertainties and made people question whether the end of the democratic era is near or not. But for Turkey, March 31 was a different event: the end of an era. Erosion of democracy. This is a turning point with profound implications, not only for Turkey, but for the immediate region and beyond. It shows how authoritarian tendencies can be challenged and serves as an example to the world.

In many countries, voters are entrenched in their party affiliations. But the Turkish society showed that it does not want to act in this way. When presented with coherent and credible alternatives to government, voters are willing to change their political leanings and reject populist authoritarianism.

Now it is my job, and that of all elected mayors, to ensure that a set of laws Common for responsive local governance is implemented continuously. This approach requires reliable internal monitoring and evaluation of public services in areas under the control of the People’s Republic Party.

At the same time, we seek to work with the government to address the country’s chronic problems, especially in the field of preparedness and We will manage against earthquakes and disasters. We will take steps to strengthen our economy, democracy and legal system by preparing a comprehensive set of reform proposals. Erdogan has appeared. Over the next five years, Social Democratic mayors will run municipalities that include more than 70 percent of the country’s population and nearly 80 percent of Turkey’s economy. As we move toward the next presidential and parliamentary elections, changes at the local level are paving the way for broader changes on the national stage.

Regardless of the future efforts of Mr. Erdogan’s populist regime, Istanbul and Turkey are symbols of They will be freedom, democracy and social harmony. A new political ethic that puts people first will prevail over authority.

Regardless of the future efforts of Mr. Erdogan’s populist regime, Istanbul and Turkey will continue to be symbols of freedom, democracy, and social cohesion. A new political ethic that puts people first will prevail over authoritarian populism. After the rule of a generation whose career is marked by democratic decline and economic decline, the Republic of Turkey enters its second century with a new faith in democracy.

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