Long live Turkey, which is not just Erdogan
What changes for Turkey and not only after Erdogan's party lost the local elections. The comment by Alessandro Albanese Ginammi
After the narrow victory in the presidential elections last year, Turkish President Erdogan and his party, the AKP, lost the local elections. The vote shows that Turkish civil society is alive and that Turkey has too often been identified only with its leader. In large cities, including the capital Ankara and Istanbul, voters chose to trust the CHP, the main opposition party.
ERDOGAN'S WORDS AFTER THE VOTE
Erdogan spoke in public accepting the verdict: “Today 85 million Turks won, the defeat must be a turning point for our party. Elections are the key moment of democracy, the moment in which the people indicate the path they want to take and I thank all those who have worked hard to ensure that our citizens spend today calmly and regularly".
THE CHANGE AT THE HEADS OF ANKARA AND ISTANBUL
These elections are very important not only for the cities where there will be a change at the top of the administration, but also for that part of the country which over the years has not agreed with Erdogan's policies and which believes in the possibility of change, one day, even the national government.
THE EFFECTS OF ELECTIONS NOT ONLY IN Türkiye
Furthermore, the result is also significant outside Turkey, where relations with European allies have not been optimal in recent years. I am referring in particular to Turkey's frozen EU accession process, in which Italy still has a key role.
RELATIONS BETWEEN Türkiye AND ITALY
Historically, Italy has occupied a position of great importance in Turkish foreign trade. After the Second World War, Turkey chose Italy as a privileged interlocutor to advance its request for Association and rely on the development of negotiations with the members of the EEC, while Rome overcame the fears of unprotected competition in the commercial field by openly supporting the candidacy Turkish. Italy continues to be among the main supporters of Turkey's accession to the European Union, despite the problems that arose after Cyprus' entry into the EU (2004), which pushed Turkey to look more eastward than westward .
RELATIONS WITH EUROPE
These elections can mark a positive turning point in relations with Europe, reminding European leaders and voters that Turkey is not just Erdogan and that we cannot do without such a precious ally, both in economic and geopolitical terms . Without Turkey, Europe appears weaker. With an even hostile Turkey, the EU seems more exposed to regional and international dangers. Things we have been able to observe over the last twenty years.
Turkey's accession to the EU is an opportunity that should not be missed. With these elections, those who blocked membership at a diplomatic level with phrases like "Oh but Erdogan…", can admit that Turkey is not only its president, but also the other 85 million Turks.
THE SCENARIOS
What would happen if Turkey changed its government in the next few years and returned to strongly desiring its entry into the EU by protecting democracy, human rights, the rights of minorities and women? What would EU countries do if Turkey implemented democratic reforms better than many countries within the EU that are going in the opposite direction and, let's say, are not exactly champions of democracy?
We will see. Meanwhile, Turkey can be said to be alive, which is not just Erdogan.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/mondo/elezioni-turchia-sconfitta-erdogan-akp/ on Tue, 02 Apr 2024 05:34:21 +0000.