On May 14-28, 2023, Turkey held two pivotal elections that would determine the fate of the presidential government system and Turkish democracy. The ruling People's Alliance faced competition from the opposition Nation's Alliance and the Labor and Freedom Alliance. In the presidential election, the Labor and Freedom Alliance did not field its own candidate but instead supported the Nation's Alliance candidate, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. Ultimately, the People's Alliance emerged as the victor in both the parliamentary and presidential elections, which were constitutionally mandated to be held concurrently.&nbsp;These elections highlighted the challenges the opposition faces in electoral authoritarian systems. Considering that the opposition not only competes against the opposing political party or candidate but also against the entire state apparatus, it is difficult to claim that the elections were conducted fairly. Particularly when the judiciary has been transformed into a tool of power, it can be likened to the opposition having to not only defeat their opponent but also the referee. Throughout this election process, the judiciary did not hesitate to favor the government, evident through actions such as threatening a political ban on a prominent opposition presidential candidate, filing a party closure case against a party expected to have a significant role in the elections, ongoing court proceedings, as well as investigations and prosecutions targeting the opposition.On the other hand, the Supreme Electoral Council undeniably provided the government with an advantage through decisions that violated the Constitution, such as allowing the President to run for a third term and permitting ministers and the Vice President to run for parliament without resigning. The fairness of the election was further compromised by the investigative and prosecutorial authorities, who exhibited leniency towards the government during the campaign but took an aggressive stance against the opposition. While no investigations were initiated into the government's blatant disinformation, those who voiced concerns regarding irregularities or corruption were swiftly silenced by the judiciary.The fairness of the election was not solely influenced by the judiciary's approach. There were no mechanisms in place to prevent the utilization of state resources for direct election propaganda, which was extensively employed. The state broadcaster TRT was overtly transformed into a government propaganda tool, while RTÜK announced investigations against opposition TV channels that aired on election night. The majority of media outlets, which are controlled by the government (accounting for over 95% of the total media), function as one-sided propaganda machines. The opposition was portrayed as colluding with terrorist organizations. Voters, particularly in rural areas with limited access to social media, were highly exposed to this biased propaganda. Additionally, it is well-known that the government allocated significant funds for targeted social media advertisements aimed at specific groups. Consequently, it is difficult to assert that the elections were conducted on equal terms and in a fair manner.Despite these challenges, it is not impossible for the opposition to win the elections. The current conditions in the country have created a strong demand for change in society. The government's social support has been significantly weakened due to factors such as economic downturn, foreign policy failures, injustices, inequalities, incompetent leadership, corruption, and inefficient public services.&nbsp;The opposition stands a chance of success if it can present a compelling alternative to the government and effectively engage with voters. However, it is important to acknowledge that the opposition parties face certain disadvantages in this regard compared to the ruling alliance. While the ruling party can appeal to a homogenous mass with a nationalist conservative identity, the opposition must appeal to diverse identity groups that may be difficult to unite. In other words, the opposition needs to bring together secularists, Kemalists, nationalists, Turkish nationalists, various leftist groups, liberals, disenchanted conservatives, nationalist Kurds, conservative Kurds, and other social minorities, and consolidate their power towards a common goal.The only way to achieve this was by removing identity from being a political problem. It required presenting and consistently defending a democratization program that respects everyone's identity, accepts individuals as they are, but does not target any identity group for political gain. This approach involved inviting political parties representing diverse identity groups to cooperate through open and transparent processes, and ensuring that the agreed program is communicated to their party members and voter bases.However, this alone was not sufficient. It was crucial to present a political program that included rational public policies addressing the country's current issues, along with detailed budgets, timelines, and competent staff to implement them. While the formation of the "Table of Six" was a positive step in this direction, the participating parties could not fully assure the public of their commitment to stable democratization. They struggled to break free from the identity-based discourse of the government and relied on eclectic rhetoric. Moreover, the lack of transparency in the candidate selection process, the delayed announcement of candidates, and the perception of predetermined outcomes undermined public confidence.In the parliamentary elections, the absence of well-designed cooperation models also affected the opposition's results. However, if the CHP and the IYI Party had formed a single electoral list, while the other four parties of the Nation's Alliance had run separately, and if the TİP and YSP had formed a joint list, the distribution of seats in the parliament could have been more favorable to the opposition.Lastly, there is no excuse for the opposition's failure to protect the integrity of the ballot boxes and establish reliable software and system to monitor election results.

The Freedom Observer

Moreover, the lack of transparency in the candidate selection process, the delayed announcement of candidates, and the perception of predetermined outcomes undermined public confidence. In the parliamentary elections, the absence of well-designed cooperation models also affected the opposition's results.

Nation's Alliance ile ilgili hikayeler