Dangerous Games in Politics
The President's words "Mr. Kemal takes orders from Qandil, we take orders from Allah" are contrary to Article 6 of the Constitution, which states that "sovereignty belongs unconditionally to the nation". But this contradiction is also incompatible with the founding philosophy of the country. The most important characteristic of the Republic is that it took sovereignty away from the idea of "God's image on earth" and gave it to the people.
Why Tension Rises Ahead of May 14
Dear friends, we are experiencing an election process in which the level of tension in society increases as the election date approaches. The People's Alliance, which follows a propaganda strategy based on perceptions, does not hesitate to take steps and make discourses that will further increase the level of tension. In my assessment in 2021, I stated that the government could consolidate its own mass with polarizing rhetoric until the election and that it might want to win the election with the perception propaganda it will carry out through security policies in the last plain. In the situation we have reached, these seem to have come true. However, it would not be wrong to say that this persistent policy has turned into a dangerous game involving the future of the country. Before seeking an answer to the question "Why are the discourses dangerous?" we need to understand the content of the discourses.
It is possible to categorize these discourses in three groups. The first group consists of discourses aimed at dividing society on the basis of ethnicity and belief. The second group is based on the accusation of the opposition of terrorism and other (untruths) on the axis of security policies and the spread of this perception in the public opinion. The third group consists of discourses that are the product of efforts to create a perception of what has been done during the government period. A new and dangerous type of discourse seems to have been added to the second group of discourses, especially as there is little time left until the elections. This discourse is based on the perception that the continuation of the government within the framework of the security discourse is a matter of survival for Turkey's future. Let us now try to address these in turn.
In the first group, we can say that the main target of the discourse based on ethnicity and belief is the conservative electorate in general and the AKP's own electorate in particular. In an attempt to prevent possible ruptures in the electorate due to the economic problems and the earthquake, the common characteristics of this group are emphasized. However, this discourse inevitably has the effect of increasing polarization and segregation in society. The preference for a communication strategy based on perception imposes this division on society. The President's statement "Those who have no religion, flag or call to prayer support Mr. Kemal."(1) can be seen as an extension of this preference. But it does not end there. This statement not only violates the Constitution, but also clearly constitutes the crime of "inciting and insulting the public to hatred and hostility" under Article 216 of the Turkish Penal Code. Of course, the fact that the rulers of a country are immune from the law also constitutes a clear violation of the principle of "Rule of Law", one of the characteristics listed in the second article of the Constitution.
Kandil Rhetoric
The discourse on this issue is so numerous that it leaves no room for doubt that this is a systematic and planned strategy. But here are just a few. "President Tayyip Erdoğan spoke at the opening of the restored Blue Mosque. He targeted the opposition as the mosque courtyard was turned into a rally area."(2).
Holding a political rally in the courtyard of a mosque clearly violates the Law on Political Parties and the last paragraph of Article 24 of the Constitution, which states that "No one shall exploit or abuse religion or religious feelings or things held sacred by religion in any way whatsoever for the purpose of basing the social, economic, political or legal basic order of the State, even partially, on religious rules or for political or personal gain or influence." In addition, the President's words "Mr. Kemal takes orders from Qandil, we take orders from Allah." (3) are contrary to Article 6 of the Constitution, which states that "sovereignty belongs unconditionally to the nation". But this contradiction is also incompatible with the founding philosophy of the country. The most important characteristic of the Republic is that it took sovereignty away from those who saw themselves as "the image of God on earth" and gave it to the people.
While the accusation of "being affiliated with a terrorist organization", which is the most important pillar of the AKP's communication strategy and which resonates with the public despite the fact that it has nothing to do with reality, was being disseminated to large masses through media operations, an interesting development took place. The allegation that public officials appointed by the government were allowed to meet with Abdullah Öcalan, the former leader of the terrorist organization who is currently imprisoned in İmralı, was raised by IYI Party Chairman Meral Aşener and journalist Murat Ağırel. However, even the denial of this allegation gives an idea about the strategy. Because the denial remained at the ministerial level. Neither President and AKP Chairman R. Tayyip Erdoğan nor the MHP chairman, who unconditionally supports him, have made any statement on the matter. Another dimension of the AKP's communication strategy emerges here. Thanks to their clear media supremacy and the availability of state facilities, they carry out a perception operation as if the incident had never happened, as if it had never happened, on any issue that could put them in a difficult position in the eyes of the public. The most concrete example of this was the earthquake in Kahramanmaraş and its aftermath. Despite the fact that the suffering of the people in the region may last for months or years, the news about the earthquake has become almost invisible. A similar situation can be said for the Turkish economy, which is in a structural crisis. Therefore, wherever you are in the world, the alleged issue is serious news. However, it is difficult to say that this news has found a place in the media except for the channels that are frequently penalized by RTÜK.
Securityist discourse has been used in increasing doses, especially in the recent period. However, it would not be wrong to say that the language used here not only constitutes a criminal offense, but also violates the principle of "the indivisible integrity of the Turkish nation with its state", which constitutes the spirit of the Constitution. In particular, the discourse of a person sitting in the seat of the Interior Ministry, such as "The election is a coup d'état", which is contrary not only to democratic thought, but also to law, reason and logic, increases the tension in the society when there is very little time left before the election. In addition to this, discourses "aimed at not recognizing the result of the election" both pave the way for a provocation that would threaten public security after the election and lead to the election in a climate of fear. It is known that such practices lead to a search for trust in voter behavior. The problem is that in a climate of distrust towards the government, it becomes very difficult to predict voter behavior.
Perhaps one of the decisive factors in these elections is the asymmetric power and unfair propaganda process used by the government. The use of public resources for propaganda purposes continues in an unethical manner without any limits. Developments in the defense industry are portrayed as the success of the government on the road to the elections, unfinished projects are put before the public despite their shortcomings, and the strategy aimed at perception continues with all its injustice. However, the defense industry, which is based on the planning of the Republic of Turkey 30-40 years ago, faces obstacles in many respects. I do not want to go into this here, as experts on the subject have raised these issues on various media platforms. However, the graver picture is that unfair gains and unfair competition problems arise as a result of the favoritism of companies known to be close to the government in the Defense Industry and the elimination of competition conditions. In other words, on the one hand, there are the messages conveyed by the government to the public, and on the other hand, there are the realities. There is a considerable difference between the two.
Conclusion
For both the government and the opposition, the election has been turned into a "life and death" struggle. However, the government acts with a security, faith-based and unjust communication strategy that supports this perception. The supportive attitude of some public officials towards the government, which has no problem financing its entire strategy from public resources in violation of the law, raises serious questions about the future of the state. The use of the "Turkish flag", "images of Turkish Armed Forces elements" and faith-based visuals in the AKP's commercials aired on television are all part of a very dangerous game. The election will end one way or another. However, the polarization that has emerged has the potential to drag the country into a climate of cold conflict that may not be resolved for many years.
It would be overly optimistic to expect the political ethics of the parliamentary system from the current system. In this respect, I am not obsessed with the resignation of the Interior, Justice and Transportation ministers. The problem in the current system is much deeper and fundamental. This path, which has been taken by publicly blackmailing, threatening and using divisive language against the public, continues with dangerous games that could threaten the survival of the Republic of Turkey, and irresponsible public officials see no harm in this. Regardless of the outcome of the elections, the fact that these crimes against the national unity and solidarity of the country legitimize their existence with faith and national discourses makes these dangerous games come to life. I am aware of the absurdity and futility of calling for common sense from the representatives of the thought that is defended in an almost unconscious manner. I only expect the Turkish people to end a nightmare by going to the polls with common sense and then protecting the ballot box. Maybe we can wake up from the nightmare.
References
(1) https://www.odatv4.com/siyaset/dini-bayragi-ezani-olmayanlar-bay-kemal-i-destekliyor-5659407
