I am announcing the presidential candidate of the opposition
The calls of the People’s Alliance to “Announce your candidate”, which means “Announce them and let’s give them a rough time by destroying them”, as if no one knows who they are already, on the one hand; and the calls of those who think that Turkey should now be led by a new leader, who […]
EU Turkey Report: Who cares for the bitter or the truth
European Union Commission’s Turkey 2021 observation report entered Turkey’s agenda and exited almost at the same time it was published, mainly because it carves the contentious issues in the EU’s favour and the righteous determinations and criticism of the report get to be officially ignored. While the penultimate statement that “Turkey is a key partner […]
Democracy is Ending Where It Began: The Example of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB)
Pursuant to Articles 2 and 135 of the Constitution, there are fierce elections in chambers of commerce and industry and stock exchanges, which are public professional organizations subject to democratic governance. The central administration of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) is said to have brought forward its own elections and […]
Compromise for a civil constitution, not for the hijab
Republican People’s Party (CHP) president Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s proposal for a law on the hijab quickly led to a political consensus when President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, “the law is not enough, let’s change the constitution.” Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ stated that the draft constitutional amendment, which was prepared in just one day, would be submitted […]
Why Kılıçdaroğlu? Why Not?
While Republican People’s Party President Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s question “Are you with me?” is posed broadly, to party members and non-party members alike, it is akin to a dog-whistle, implicitly addressing more specific groups both within and beyond the party. The CHP leader’s question indicates that there are at least three such groups: those who support him, […]
All are suspects of corruption: Layman is in prison, Officials are free
Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) lawmaker Zehra Taşkesenlioğlu’s exclamations in the hidden video recording where she said “You are destroying me so that you can make money”; the statements of aggrieved businessperson Mine Sineren; the arrest of Ünsal Ban, whose driver was caught burning documents while he was preparing to flee abroad… These are […]
We must turn the waste of judicial recess into an opportunity
Tomorrow, Thursday September 1, 2022, the judicial year commencement ceremonies will be held again. The presidents of the higher appellate courts and most probably the president of the Republic and the minister of justice will make speeches. But the president of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations will not be allowed to speak, and other […]
The Public Personnel Selection Examination (KPSS): A Recent and Familiar Example of Judicial Evasion of Nepotism
In response to the massive public outcry caused by allegations that emerged on August 1, 2022, that more than 30 questions and answers from the Public Personnel Selection Examination (KPSS) organized by the Student Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM) had been leaked on Sunday, July 31, the president ordered the State Supervisory Board (DDK) to […]
The Uber Issue and the Coterie of Politicians, Lobbyists and Corporations
As it has done in other countries, Uber has hired lobbyists in Turkey, paying astronomical fees, according to leaked documents. In this way, it was able to easily reach politicians in office and make demands for the laws to be applied in its favor and for those that hindered its work to be changed. Hundreds […]
İmamoğlu Should Seek the Cause of Economic Problems in the Right Place
İstanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu told the British newspaper the Financial Times that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan would dismiss him if he was re-elected—a statement that reverberated across the political world. İmamoğlu stressed that the impact of Erdoğan’s election victory on his own position rather than the effects it would have in the areas of law, […]
Erdoğan and the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD): The State Belongs to Everyone
I find odd the remarks made about TÜSİAD by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to the new TÜSİAD president Orhan Turan: “You can’t lecture us, you are an apprentice, you haven’t even become a journeyman. Know your place”, and “TÜSİAD should never knock on the door of this government”—a very effective sanction for the business world. […]
A Different Eid Prayer
May Eid al-Fitr, which we also call the Candy Feast, be as sweet as honey and may good wishes come true. May our crops be abundant, our tables rich, and people healthy, peaceful, happy and hopeful. May our families, our homes and our state be perfect, may our country and our people prosper, and may […]
