AKP - does it govern or is it incapable of governing?

The AKP has lost support—this much is obvious. It can no longer persuade the exploited masses to lend their consent and support. The MHP, its junior partner and supporter, is in the same situation. The People’s Alliance had once won a constitutional referendum and the election. Though this was not without trickery, the majority of the working masses –some genuinely believing, some begrudgingly– appeared to be behind them.

In the 2015 elections, The AKP tried to bolster its waning support among the masses by drawing the MHP into its orbit, but in vain. In the 2019 local elections, it lost eleven major city elections as well as its majority in parliament. If anyone still remembers the slogan, the claim was made that whenever the AKP left local governance, “everything [would] be much better,” but it was not the case! What has actually happened is that the AKP, with the MHP hand-in-hand, has grown more belligerent while both the quantity and quality of its malfeasance have increased.

Allow them to remain, certainly there is no need for struggle or revolution! But there is a tremendous need, and this need is growing each day. The opposite is true: without struggle, saying “they will be thrown out at the first election” is like “waiting for Godot,” and as we wait their malfeasance increases.

 At first, no one spoke out, including the bourgeois opposition, saying “I won’t give quarter to terrorists”. In fact, when it came to the question of repealing parliamentary immunity, the CHP said, “It’s unconstitutional, but fine, let it be repealed,” and supported the amendment. It was easy then, but after they went after the HDP, members of the CHP were also imprisoned. Later, they pointed to Assad; and just as no one spoke up, the bill to send soldiers into Syria was passed with the support of the CHP. And in the case of Libya, they were all in concert, as nationalists! Though they said “We will be saved (from the AKP),” the bourgeois opposition, by bringing up the rear of the AKP, allowed them to send troops abroad and cultivate support at home through nationalism.

But the youth were already given no quarter! And the bar associations followed soon after. Lawyers were labeled as “terrorists” and attacked. Those who said “We’ll give no quarter to terrorists” and remained silent were likewise silent when lawyers were being targeted. Then they went after the TTB (Turkish Medical Association). If medical workers weren’t held in such high esteem during the pandemic, their treatment would have been the same as the bar associations. And despite medical workers taking to the streets because of it, they were continuously denied their rights and prerogatives. When they presumed to repeal the Istanbul Convention, they were met with the resistance of women. A demonstration was organized against the murders of women, with chants of “Enough, we don’t want to lose one person every day,” but they did not hesitate to attack them. It was the turn of women to be charged with “terrorism”.

Neither did they hesitate to attack villagers who said “I don’t want mining to take place on my farm,” or “I don’t want a hydroelectric station.”

They went so far as to label minimum wage workers “terrorists,” simply because they were attempting to raise their wages through collective bargaining. Whoever objects to the current conditions and tries to struggle for improved rights and justice is labeled an enemy and attacked without reservation.

They used to say, “We don’t interfere in anyone’s lifestyle”! But when the pandemic presented them with an opportunity, they organized raids on New Year’s celebrations. Police squads behaved as though they were raiding terrorist cells, yelling commands like “Don’t move!” and “Get on the ground!” Before, Islamist civilian groups would attack New Year’s celebrations, or ISIS would carry out bombings. Now, the state itself is the assailant. As for precautions relating to the pandemic, perhaps these actions would be understandable if the Ministry of Religious Affairs hadn’t delivered a fatwa declaring “It is permissible to attend Friday prayers at the nearest mosque.” But no, it is forbidden to gather for New Year’s celebrations, but permissible to gather for prayer! A clearly ideological position!

The law concerning the appointment of trustees by the state to oversee public organizations is also ideologically motivated. When a writer for Yeni Şafak warned that this law could be applied to religious organizations in the future, saying, “This will be a disaster when the situation changes,” the Minister for Internal Affairs replied by saying, “I’m the guarantee (against this happening),” implicitly declaring that one-man rule would not change!

As for the bourgeois opposition, they declare, “They are incapable of governing!”

During his first speaking appearance of the year on Halk TV, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu emphasized, “The AKP is incapable of governing!” Before, Alper Taş had said “They are incapable of governing,” and mentioned “dual power,” referring to local governments! In this age, “dual power,” apparently, is when the working class and the bourgeoisie are incapable of prevailing against one another.

“Being incapable of governing” does not mean “They don’t govern well, I would govern better.” It means they no longer have the power to govern, the people no longer wish to be governed as before, and, raising the flag, march out. How else can we expect them to govern? Moreover, as they lose power, their attacks become more unrestrained.

There is no place for idle chatter. If we attempt to prevent the attacks and overcome them, we will have done our part.

(Translated by Çağatay ÖNCÜ)