My May 14 Question List

Yes, the SBE has made its "expected" decision and the CB candidates have been officially announced. Now let's take a look at the 4 candidates.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan: He has ruled the country for 21 years. He says that what we have done is a guarantee of what we will do, that we will turn the country, which is in economic crisis and worn out by the earthquake, back on its feet. He considers his government successful in foreign policy. Conservative and status quoist.

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu: He has led the CHP for 13 years. Since 2017, he has rallied the opposition around him with a unifying and inclusive policy. He promises change and common sense. His main discourses are on the fight against poverty, democracy, rights, law and justice. He proposes a transition to a pluralist system.

Muharrem İnce: A very old CHP member. 2018 CHP candidate for the presidency. He came second in the race. He wanted to become CHP chairman but failed, so he left and founded his own party. His messages for young people are noteworthy.

Sinan Oğan: He ran for the presidency of the MHP, but failed. He did not join the Good Party either. He became the candidate of the Zafer Party. He says he is the candidate of nationalists. He is well educated and well equipped. His discourse on nationalism and Syrian refugees stands out.

The first question a voter asks himself/herself is whether he/she is satisfied with the current situation. If you are satisfied, there is no problem, you can vote for the current government. However, for those who are dissatisfied, the reasons for their dissatisfaction should be revealed. The reasons for dissatisfaction among opposition voters can be categorized under 5 main headings.

- Economic crisis and livelihood problems

- Reduced government system to one man

- Fraying perception of "state"

- Meritlessness, nepotism and corruption

- Asylum seeker and migration policies

Do we need to evaluate them one by one? In fact, all these dissatisfactions have a cause and effect relationship with each other. Nevertheless, each opposition voter will vote based on the most disturbing of these factors.

You can manipulate the voter's voting tendency up to a certain point, you can guide it with perception. What really matters is what the voter is most affected by. This is directly related to the economic and socio-cultural position of the voter. We cannot expect everyone to make high-level political analyzes. While some discuss the shocking political effects of neo-liberalism in the 21st century, others are concerned with how they will eat that day. In our country, political identity is more oriented towards daily life than high-level analysis. On the other hand, religious and ethnic belonging, which is effective in social structures that have not been transformed in the Western sense, can also be decisive.

Since democracies are based on equal citizenship, every vote is equal and valuable. Candidates are of course aware of this and formulate their electoral strategies accordingly. They develop their discourses and messages according to the "single voter". They do favors for the voter, make promises and give hope. Let's enjoy it.

I look at myself. I emphasize my individuality rather than my sense of belonging. But this is not a selfish individuality. I love my country not because I belong to this or that group, but with an absolute and simple patriotism. I am not satisfied with the current situation and I am looking for my President by asking myself these questions.

- Do I want change?

- Which candidate and his/her team can find a solution to the economic crisis and livelihood problems?

- Do I want to be governed by one man or by a pluralistic system?

- Which candidate proposes equal citizenship and more democracy?

- Which candidate believes in the rule of law?

This is my list, everyone can make their own list of questions...