Ramadan month: a good chance for peaceful dialogue in pre-election Türkiye?
Erdogan’s Türkiye likes to position itself as “a guardian of Islam” on an international arena. Why not to use the month of Ramadan to build a lasting peace within the country before it’s too late?
After devastating February earthquakes in the country, in a pre-election Turkish society seems like divided and fractured, mainly, into two parts: those, who call for consolidation of an entire nation and forget political ambitions in the face of consequences of those earthquake and continuous economic slowdown combined with high inflation, which has been accelerating since the last several years. In the first days of earthquake, which took place at the inception of February, Erdogan’s government, along with others, was shocked and did not know how to react correctly, accordingly, was slow to address adequately and efficiently on time. Although authorities gradually have managed the situation by appealing for developed countries and international humanitarian organizations to deploy rescue operation teams and provide necessary humanitarian aids. At the same time, Turkish official authorities appealed for all including political oppositional parties and politicians to leave their ambitions and interest behind and come together and join in addressing post-earthquake issues. However, later no real and bold step was taken by the official authorities in regard of consolidation of all political actors and have most needed dialogue within Turkish society, as well as, joint action within the country for the sake of the ordinary people, who are most affected by earthquakes and economic hardships. Instead, the authorities accused oppositional figures in speculating on earthquake and people’s tragedy caused by it and demanded them stop doing it. But oppositional parties seem enthusiastically tapped into this “opportunity” caused by the natural disaster and obviously blamed the authorities for their pure preparedness for such emergency situations and in addition, of course, not properly handling economic continuous hardships caused skyrocketing inflation rate. So now that we see all parties’ continuous accusations one another to get higher score for Presidential and Parliamentary elections scheduled for May of this year. Stakes are high, but peace is fragile and underestimated currency. Accordingly, it is high time for Erdogan’s team to seize this opportunity provided by Holly Ramadan month and act for the sake of peace in Turkey and have true dialogue with oppositional parties. Dialogue does not mean just talking together at the same table and showing smiling for public by shaking hands. A true strategic dialogue should mean to act on after talks and forgive hatred and grievances (not necessarily, to forget) political opponents, and free all those, who were imprisoned last ten years due to their political stand by providing them with amnesty. Yes, Realpolitik is Realpolitik and it anticipates zero-sum game in political confrontations, however it does not guarantee lasting peace within society even after assumed victory over political rivals therefore, it does not bring stability. Thus, today’s Türkiye is facing a new reality, which demands an extraordinary diplomatic attitude: to provide stability and conditions for fair and just elections as well as, a trustful platform for peace in post-election period of the country. This time Erdogan’s government is not in the position to dictate all the rules of the game therefore, there is an urgent need for true dialogue and actions to consider all parties and people’s interest so that Türkiye will celebrate its 100 years’ anniversary this with more consolidated and stable situation in autumn.
Erkinbek Kamalov