Now, do you think fascism has come to Turkey?
Finally the election is over.
The campaign started long ago, on June 1, 2013, at the start of the Gezi Park protests. Former Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan labeled the demonstrators in the park “looters.” It was a long time ago; now finally the campaign is over.
This long and destructive election environment of 29 months has strained Turkey to an extent it has probably never seen before in its political history. It has brought the country to breaking point. Particularly in the past five months, the bloodbath and escalating violence has immersed almost everyone in deep pessimism.
Starting from today, the first and most important thing that needs to be done is to try and collect the broken pieces of this 29-month period and try to rebuild communal peace.
No doubt, the duty of reconstructing social peace belongs first to the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), the government to be born from it, and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Rebuilding social peace
However, the mission of rebuilding social peace does not belong only to the AK Party, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The duty that falls onto the shoulders of all social segments under the “opposition” category is no less than what falls onto the shoulders of the AK Party.
If there is going to be peace, it cannot be unilateral. All segments should be prepared for reconciliation. More precisely, they should prepare themselves to be “normal.”
It was only yesterday that opposition headlines were reading “Last exit before fascism,” referring to the early general election. I wonder what those who wrote this are thinking now. If they think fascism has come to Turkey, then it means they don’t want social peace.
Closing the doors of dialogue, not being on speaking terms with the government, and not having your voice heard by the government does not make anyone gain anything. It will contribute nothing to Turkey.
Political parties are not enemies of each other. They are only rivals. This simple sentence should first of all be internalized by our political parties.
Rule of law
Another important issue that Turkey should focus on, starting from today, is reviving the rule of law. This is no doubt a field that the AK Party has to prioritize. However, the opposition and primarily the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) must contribute to.
And while the rule of law is being revived, Turkey should return to the democratization perspective again. At the same time, it has to seriously plan to continue the resolution process - unilaterally if needed.
The faster Turkey repairs the damage caused by the 29-month long election campaign, the easier and faster the country will start moving forward again on the path ahead.
What we need is hope.