When Trust Is Broken, Politics Falls Silent

Trust...

As in human relationships, trust is the most fragile foundation of the bonds we form with society. From the moment we are born, our understanding of life, our choices and our directions are based on trust, and they are shaped around this feeling. We stand where we trust, walk with those we trust, hold on to those we trust, and never let go. That is why we always go to the same grocery store, consult our friends and family when choosing a doctor, or why even in politics, a ‘familiar’ face means more than a new promise.

Because trust is a guarantee from the past for a step into the unknown.

But when it is broken, it is almost impossible to repair. Especially when the breakage becomes a habit of repetition and contradiction...

The political arena in Turkey is one of the areas where trust is most tested, but also most easily squandered.

Political actors such as the AKP, MHP, CHP, İYİ Party, YRP, DEM and Zafer Party, along with their leaders, have struggled for years to gain, maintain or rebuild the trust of the people. However, a common problem stands out for almost all of them: the dilemma of inconsistency between rhetoric and actions.

AKP

With slogans such as ‘we are the people's party’ and ‘service to all,’ the AKP enjoyed widespread public support for a long time. However, the economic crisis, high inflation, youth unemployment and social tensions, which have deepened since 2023, have caused these political slogans to lose their resonance with the public. The dream of a powerful Turkey that was presented and created was overshadowed by the livelihood struggles of ordinary people. The biggest breach of trust was that the burden of these economic crises was placed on the people.

MHP

The MHP, which pursues a nationalist political line, has maintained its position as a party at the centre of the state for many years. However, its alliance with the AKP has led to questions about the party's independence. The slogan ‘country first’ has been hollowed out by certain steps taken or silences observed during times of crisis. This situation has even led nationalist-conservative voters to question whether the party under Bahçeli's leadership is still true to its identity.

CHP

The CHP, the founding party of the Republic, struggled to bridge the gap between itself and the people for many years. However, with the change in leadership after the 2023 elections, the party has seen a level of motivation in the field that has not been seen in a long time. CHP organisations are almost constantly present in the field. The CHP's ‘Retirees' Rally,’ ‘Pistachio Rally,’ and ‘Tea Rally’ events, which focus on the economic and social demands of the people, demonstrate the party's strong efforts to become the voice of all disadvantaged groups.

In particular, the energy of the new general chairman, Özgür Özel, his tireless fieldwork, and his direct language with citizens continue to generate new excitement both within and outside the party. However, this dynamism alone is not enough to build lasting trust.

What the CHP needs most today is to produce concrete solutions. Voters are now looking for solutions rather than rhetoric. As the first party of the Republic, the CHP must explain to the public in a clearer and more understandable way how it will solve fundamental problems such as poverty, income inequality, and unemployment. The voter's primary priority is the economy and prosperity; this reality clearly shows that the strategic mistakes made in the past during the 6-Party Table process must not be repeated.

The CHP is no longer just an opposition actor; it is now seen as a potential candidate for power. At this point, using a bolder and more independent language, offering direct solutions without backing down, increases the public's trust in the party.

However, despite everything, the party's biggest shortcoming still lies in human resource planning. The failure to bring forward qualified, competent, young and socially connected personnel to management positions, local government or potential ministerial roles can undermine long-term confidence. Voters now want to see not only the leader, but also the team behind them.

If the CHP can resolve this human resource issue and transform its current field motivation into a more systematic vision, it could rise to become the closest, or even the strongest, contender for power within the current political landscape.

İYİ Party

The İYİ Party, which was founded with the claim of being the ‘third way,’ was initially a serious hope for voters who wanted to position themselves in the centre. However, serious crises, inconsistent statements and strategic mistakes under the leadership of Meral Akşener eroded this hope. In particular, Akşener's silent visit to the Presidential Palace caused deep trauma within the party and its base.

The fact that neither Akşener nor the party leadership made any clear statements after this critical event further shook confidence. The failure to provide clear answers to these questions after the change of leadership left a weak first impression of the new leadership's public relations.

The party has become stuck between the ‘nationalist or centrist’ divide. There are serious disconnects between rhetoric and actions, between vision and representation. When the slogan ‘We are equal, we will be centrist’ clashed with the nationalist tone on the ground, voters began to question the sincerity of this rhetoric.

In fact, the public still sees the İYİ Party as an alternative to the AK Party. Especially young voters born after 2000 feel the need for a younger, more grassroots, innovative and motivated İYİ Party, similar to the energy created by the CHP after the 2023 elections. If the party can rebuild itself with a transparent and dynamic cadre that is not confined to nationalism but is compatible with democratic values, it still has the potential to win the trust of a large undecided segment that has lost its place in politics.

Victory Party

Sinan Oğan and the Victory Party he leads were among the most talked-about figures in the 2023 elections. Oğan became a key figure with the percentage of votes he received in the first round, and his support for President Erdoğan in the second round seriously shook the morale of the opposition and the voters' confidence in this party.

This decision not only undermined the claim of being a ‘neutral third way,’ but also created the perception of “opportunism” and ‘personal interest’ among voters. Ultimately, it was not Oğan but the Victory Party that suffered. Today, the Victory Party is trying to re-enter the arena with a narrative of victimhood and exclusion.

However, this major contradiction from the past is still fresh in the minds of voters. The narrow discourse based on nationalism is confining the party to a specific voter profile. The Victory Party must overcome these contradictions and offer a genuine perspective in order to build a political foundation based on trust. Otherwise, a move from the past will overshadow every word it utters in the future.

Renewed Welfare Party (YRP)

The Renewed Welfare Party claims to be an alternative to the AKP's long-standing base, representing conservative and National Vision views. It uses harsh opposition rhetoric on issues such as economic problems, high cost of living and moral decay. However, its leader, Fatih Erbakan, has made statements in the past that were close to the AKP and has had a sometimes contradictory relationship with the government, giving the impression that he cannot take a clear stance in the eyes of voters. For this reason, the YRP is struggling to find a full response among voters seeking ‘clear opposition to the government.’

DEM Party

The DEM Party, as it is known today, represents one of the most enduring and influential political movements not only in recent years but in the entire history of Turkish politics. Although the parties it has been associated with since the early 1990s—HADEP, DEHAP, DTP, BDP, and HDP—have been shut down, this political movement has continued on its path without abandoning its voter base or political line.

This continuity demonstrates the strength and stability of the ties forged with Kurdish voters in Turkey. Since the 2010s, this movement, which is the third largest political force in parliament, cannot be ignored by either the ruling party or the opposition. The DEM Party is aware of this and is strategically using its key role in politics. It is clear that they will be one of the key actors in the next election. However, one of the most important issues that will shape the future role of this party will be the ‘National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission’ established in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey with the launch of the ‘Terror-Free Turkey’ initiative.

The reports prepared by this commission will shape public opinion on critical issues such as the extent to which the DEM Party has distanced itself from terrorism and whether it emphasises social unity.

The DEM Party has been criticised by broad sections of society for its past rhetoric and stance, while its supporters have claimed that it has been pushed to the margins of the system. However, whether it can shift towards a more inclusive, transparent, accountable, and clear stance against terrorism will determine its future and its ability to build trust.

Conclusion: Power Cannot Change Without Trust

Today, the biggest problem in Turkish politics is not ideological, but a crisis of trust. The people do not want to hear what was said in the past; they want to see what is being done now. They are not interested in which leader's face is more visible on television, but which party representative is more present among the people, and they care about this.

In short, the political institution requires trust; politics begins with trust. If trust is destroyed, promises fall silent. And right now, millions of people in Turkey are quietly but insistently telling the political institution one clear thing: “We no longer want to believe you; we want to trust you.”