Politics of love in Turkey鈥檚 protests
In countries struggling against a drift toward autocracy, the tone of pro-democracy protests is usually hostile, even rude. Not so in Turkey these days. After a week of street demonstrations since the March 19 detention of the main opposition politician, Turks are offering a new playbook to the world 鈥� largely based on loving one鈥檚 enemies.
From his jail cell Monday, for example, presidential hopeful Ekrem 陌mamo臒lu 鈥� who was arrested on dubious charges of corruption 鈥� sent this message to the young people protesting in Turkish cities against the two-plus-decade rule of President Recep Tayyip Erdo臒an:
鈥淪tay away from conflicts. Be good to our security forces, police officers, and people whom I love very much. Let me see you all with smiling faces.鈥�
In a step affirming democracy, Mr. 陌mamo臒lu鈥檚 center-left Republican People鈥檚 Party went ahead with a planned presidential primary Monday while also opening the voting to all citizens. Mr. 陌mamo臒lu was the only candidate 鈥� something President Erdo臒an sought to prevent by the arrest in order to stay in power. Yet the party estimates nearly 15 million adults cast ballots in a country of 86 million people.
The party is also trying not to invite police violence, calling for peaceful action by the protesters. It has moved the demonstrations to different places while keeping municipal services running.
When some protesters hurled curses and insults at President Erdo臒an鈥檚 family, leaders of the Republican People鈥檚 Party called for 鈥渃lean language.鈥� Party leader 脰zg眉r 脰zel said the curses felt like they were 鈥渄irected at my own mother.鈥�
Since his election as Istanbul鈥檚 mayor in 2019, Mr. 陌mamo臒lu has countered the president鈥檚 tactics of polarization and attempts to eliminate rivals with what he calls 鈥渞adical love,鈥� or the antithesis of fear. Besides appealing to Mr. Erdo臒an鈥檚 supporters, he has become famous with his slogan 鈥淓verything will be fine.鈥� With humor and gentleness, he tells Turks that they can bring 鈥渄emocracy out from within us.鈥�
This politics of inclusion is one reason Turkey鈥檚 opposition parties now control the local governments of more than half of the population. Constitutionally barred from running again, President Erdo臒an is tightening his grip on power. Rather than following the tactics of fear, Mr. 陌mamo臒lu says the protests have 鈥渋gnited鈥� a light rising like the sun, binding Turks together 鈥渨ith warmth.鈥�
