The Meaning Of “Normalization” In Erdogan’s Turkey

ISTANBUL — After so many years…

The ruling coalition of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) is establishing a working dialogue with the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). The surprise announcement this month has generated both warm praise and harsh criticism.

The criticisms mainly come from within the opposition; they claim that CHP, the victor of the recent local elections, is being duped by the AKP; that AKP cannot be trusted and Erdoğan is not speaking in good faith.

The next national elections will be held in 2028. There are those who await justice; the financially struggling retirees and those who work for minimum wage; those who cannot get a government job because of the corrupt interview system. Should these people wait for four more years for their problems to be solved? Is there a guarantee that they would even be solved in four years?

But those who welcome the dialogue argue that seeking political compromise can already lighten the burdens of the most vulnerable people in the society.

The country, I believe, needs normalization. Moreover, both the AKP and CHP may have something to gain from such a process. Normalization wouldn’t go anywhere if it harms one of the sides; otherwise it wouldn’t work. Normalization has to be a “win-win” process.

The AKP’s path to success in the next elections requires an upturn in the economy that would improve the situation for the masses. Politics that only focuses on identity and security are not sufficient to win elections in an atmosphere in which the economic crisis is deepening and persisting as the March municipal elections demonstrated.

Economic troubles

The CHP opposition has been embracing a form of communication and politics that addresses identity politics that spoke to the conservative AKP voter’s “identity anxiety.” The CHP is no longer identified as a “threat” in terms of identity and culture but as another political party that can be voted for.

The CHP needs to prove that it’s also ready to rule Turkey.

This will force the AKP to change its message. Currently, in terms of foreign policy, Turkey is walking a path of rational politics that is non-confrontational and even pro-Western. But Ankara must maintain this line in order to be considered a “predictable country” and receive a meaningful amount of support from abroad.

We should’ve understood by now that there’s no economic development in the absence of rule of law. If dialogue with the opposition would provide a return to the rule of the law and a stronger democracy, that would provide the national grounds for the success of the economic policies and international support would follow. This road is a sensible one for the AKP and Turkey both.

Meaning of responsibility

At the same time, CHP intends to portray itself as a “responsible opposition party” after its success in local elections and the responsibility that comes with running major cities. They need to prove that they are also ready to rule Turkey.

Let’s not forget that the reason for the opposition’s failure in last year’s parliamentary and presidential elections was the voters’ lack of confidence in their competence to rule the nation. The CHP is sending the message of “we can govern” by being in dialogue with the government and taking initiative in searching for solutions to specific problems together with them.

In short, the CHP believes that the wind that has been carrying them since the local elections can be strengthened by acting “responsibly” not by stiffening their opposition against AKP.

More than a word

So how can the dialogue actually take place? The debts that were taken over by the CHP governed municipalities are astronomical. They require access to resources and to overcome the obstacles that Ankara puts on their way. Otherwise, how can the earthquake-struck Adıyaman be rebuilt? How can the CHP mayors who have taken over empty safes and debt can provide services to the people?

Without rule of law, normalization is just a word.

At the end of the day, dialogue must be established between the government bloc and the main opposition party after so many years. This dialogue must provide solid positive results in order to be continued by both sides. It’s especially crucial for the CHP to silence the critics from their side.

But ultimately, the responsibility is on the government. If normalization is truly the goal, Erdogan and his party must abandon any claim to the “extraordinary” nature of the Turkish state. That would mean applying the rulings of the Constitutional Court of Turkey and the European Court of Human Rights. Because without rule of law, normalization is just a word.