Politics in Turkey: Purpose behind the “second” (Kurdish) Opening Stratetgy by the ruling alliance

The purpose behind the “opening” strategy, which has caused significant disarray in the opposition camp, has been revealed: a constitutional amendment paving the way for Erdoğan’s re-election, as openly admitted by Devlet Bahçeli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

The People’s Alliance (Cumhur İttifakı), which suffered defeat in the March 31 local elections, seems to have temporarily succeeded in its strategy to secure power by weakening parliamentary opposition.

A Shifting Political Landscape

After the AKP fell to the position of the second-largest party in local elections and witnessed no subsequent increase in its voter base, the party, in collaboration with its ally MHP, began implementing a new plan. Meanwhile, CHP leader Özgür Özel’s pursuit of normalization, seen by many as overly idealistic given Turkey’s repressive environment, inadvertently provided an advantageous setting for the ruling alliance.

During this period, which lasted until mid-June, CHP appeared disconnected from the electorate’s demand for change, leading to widespread perceptions that the party was failing to embrace its role as a serious contender for power. Instead of crafting a robust opposition narrative, CHP focused on incremental “achievements” such as solving limited issues through “shadow ministers,” presenting these as major successes.

CHP’s attempts to retain non-traditional voters from the local elections, combined with a “constructive opposition” approach, led to disillusionment among anti-government citizens, further eroding public confidence.

Adding to this, CHP vowed not to misuse public support by calling for early elections, effectively granting the government an additional 2.5 years to consolidate power.

Growing Indecision Among Voters

While CHP tried to capitalize on parliamentary recess by organizing thematic rallies and engaging directly with voters, these efforts failed to resonate with large sections of society struggling with poverty, hunger, and uncertainty about the future. The absence of a strong, inspiring opposition resulted in a rise in indecision among voters, further weakening CHP’s standing.

Bahçeli Takes Center Stage

The government’s strategy to destabilize the opposition reached its peak with Bahçeli playing a leading role. A new “Kurdish card” narrative was introduced, cloaked in the guise of “peace,” a concept hard for anyone to reject. Despite the deep scars left by the previous process (first Kurdish Opening in 2009-2016), which resulted in approximately 8,000 deaths, it became evident that the authoritarian AKP-MHP alliance’s true aim was far from peace. However, instead of outright rejecting this narrative, the opposition engaged in fragmented debates, fueling further disunity.

This maneuver exploited internal divisions within both CHP and Kurdish political circles, deepening mistrust and distancing these groups from their shared goal of regime change.

A Second Trap?

Turkey risks falling into yet another political trap, reminiscent of the “Yes, but not enough…” campaign during the 2010 constitutional amendments, which paved the way for the current presidential system.

Warnings about constitutional amendment efforts were initially dismissed, but Bahçeli’s recent remarks leave no room for doubt about their intentions:

“If we strike a decisive blow against inflation and achieve political and economic stability, wouldn’t it be natural and right for our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, to be re-elected once again? Shall we search for a candidate four years before the next election within CHP? Implementing the necessary constitutional amendments is one of our responsibilities. For the continuity of the state, political stability, and building the Century of Turkey, Mr. Erdoğan is the guarantee, the people’s beloved, and, with his experience and knowledge, the only choice for us.”

A Call to Action for the Opposition

The opposition, particularly CHP and DEVA Party, must unequivocally reject the government’s narratives of “peace,” “democratic constitution,” and “solving the Kurdish issue,” which are clearly deceitful. They need to forge solidarity with citizens advocating for change and present a united front against the regime.

The time for hesitation is over. Opposition parties must focus on empowering grassroots movements and rejecting participation in games that ultimately serve to reinforce the current power structure.

Source: birgun.net/makale/artik-tereddude-bir-yer-kaldi-mi-573571
Article by Nurcan Bilge GÖKDEMİR (Translated and edited by BTT)

TAGS: #politics #Turkey #Kurdish #opening #strategy #ruling #alliance #target #constitutional #amendment #presidential #election