Mehmet Metiner, a long-time journalist and one-time AKP Congressman is currently a columnist at Islamist mouthpiece Yeni Safak daily. He also appears regularly on TV broadcasts to defend and praise the virtues of his idol, the Reis (The Chief), one of Turkish President Erdogan’s favored nicknames. On Friday, he penned the column below, confessing that Erdoganism is leading the party to a crushing defeat in May elections.
His words may be more valuable that many polls, or the views of so-called Turkey experts opining that Erdogan will never lose.
Here is an excerpt from Metiner plea: (Link to Turkish article is here)
Although I am not sure that my words will be heard, I feel the need to write.
To make a note for history.
In order to avoid the question “why didn’t warn us in time?”
Because I believe that it will not help to speak after the glass vase is shattered.
We are heading to a tough election.
Voter sociology is different from the previous ones.
Voter preferences have changed.
Even the people loyal to Chief (Reis) to death seem to have visibly diverged in their preferences.
The way they look at Reis and to those who do politics in the AK Party are gradually moving in opposite directions.
That’s why the gap between Reis and the AK Party is getting wider in the polls.
If the vote received by Reis is many times higher than AK Party, of which he is the leader and chairman, then there is a problem.
The nation is overwhelmingly dissatisfied with the party members conducting politics on behalf of the Reis.
The rank-and-file organizations are largely inadequate in representing and carrying the wishes of Reis and his mission.
Therefore, the distance between local party members and the nation is gradually widening.
The fact that names the nation does not want had been brought to lead party organizations and the imposition of names that the nation does not like as proxies of Erdogan have caused a great accumulation of anger.
If Congressional candidates are chosen again with the old habits, that is, with the attitude that people have to vote for our choices, without solving this problem of agency, the gap between the support of the nation to the Chief and AK Party can further widen.
“We’ll vote for the Chief, but never for carpetbaggers” is becoming the mantra of a growing number of voters.
That’s why AKP’s motto ” Enough! Let the nation speak!” must be demonstrated with practice.
If AKP remains on the path of “political elitism”, contrary to its founding mission, that is, going by the belief “the nation does not know whom to elect, only we know who is good for it”, it will mean denying our roots and losing the love of the nation.
We (Meaning I) have to say this truth.
We have to reflect this voice rising from the field.
We have to say the truth, even if it hurts.
If we do not convey what we have been told by the nation, if we act prioritizing personal gain and remain indifferent to the voice of the nation, we will be under a great responsibility.
Our duty is to convey what we see and hear on the field, and to give humble advice to our party in this critical process.
Follow our English language YouTube videos @ REAL TURKEY: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKpFJB4GFiNkhmpVZQ_d9Rg
And content at Twitter: @AtillaEng
Facebook: Real Turkey Channel: https://www.facebook.com/realturkeychannel/