The troll issue of the pro-government media

The troll issue of the pro-government media

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, in his speech delivered at those hours when the election victory was definite, said, “Those who did not vote for us should not have a defeatist mood. I am addressing the AK Party [Justice and Development Party] members; today is the day of victory but at the same time, the day of modesty.”

In the same speech, Davutoğlu also said, “We will not let hubris and boasting enter this door.”

Later, AK Party Deputy Chair Ömer Çelik said, “The AK Party has won these elections but there are no losers in this election.”

They are saying these things but according to the pro-government media’s criers, it is time for “revenge, kneeling, subjugation and calling to account.”

I don’t know if Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu is saying, “What I am saying and what are they writing?” when he sees these publications but this is the situation. 

The pro-government media are in the mood as if they have won a war, not an election. Well, we journalists are used to this; we smile and go. But they cannot stop themselves from printing big size photos of various artists and showing them as targets just because they did not vote for the AK Party. 

It is no secret that the pro-government media’s eyes and ears are on the presidential palace. Obviously this dominant mood in the pro-government media comes from not the party administration but from the atmosphere created by the trolls in the palace. 

It looks as if this chorus will continue to shout like this for a long time; God help them and God help us. 

Erdoğan–Davutoğlu coalition government 

Normally, when a party that has been ruling for 13 years wins another election, it should not be a matter of curiosity how the government will be structured.

Those ministers who have had an experience of 13 years would keep their seats; some new names would be appointed for fresh blood and few ministers would change places.

But we are all now curiously waiting and asking, “How will the new economy administration be structured?”

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, on the day deputy lists were drafted, has asked especially for Ali Babacan to be included in the list.  

However, the “pool” media was writing that Babacan’s situation was not clear and that Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek was to go…  

They had a candidate for economy management: the son-in-law of the president, Berat Albayrak! We know that these kinds of stories would never be written unless the palace allows them. They have been ignoring Babacan for a long time anyway. 

I understand from this that the palace does not want an economy administration headed by Babacan. There is nobody who is interested in the structural reforms Şimşek was talking about before the elections. 

The palace has in mind to restructure those organs such as the Central Bank, Economy Council and Monetary Policy Board. 

Obviously, there is an effort to keep a tight rein on Davutoğlu before he makes the new government list. 

It also seems as if Davutoğlu may have to change the list he will take to Erdoğan. 

Let us see what kind of a government will come out. Will it be a government selected by Davutoğlu as prime minister or will it be an Erdoğan-Davutoğlu coalition government?