When a democracy faces a leader or a candidate who sows fear and division to gain power, what is the best response? A good answer can be found in a remarkable election on Sunday in Turkey, where voters chose the antithesis of fear.
The country鈥檚 main opposition parties easily won elections in 35 municipalities, notably Istanbul and the capital, Ankara. It was a big defeat for Recep Tayyip Erdo臒an, the populist president who has held power for 21 years with the rhetoric and actions of an authoritarian. While voters certainly held the president accountable for a bad economy, they also endorsed the opposition鈥檚 style of governance 鈥� one that embraces Mr. Erdo臒an鈥檚 supporters out of humility and respect rather than shuns them.
That inclusive, nonpolarizing approach is summed up by the campaign slogans of the main opposition leader, Ekrem 陌mamo臒lu, the mayor of Istanbul: 鈥淓verything will be fine鈥� and 鈥淟ove will win.鈥�
Or as his wife posted on social media after her husband鈥檚 reelection by a wide margin: 鈥淟ove and kindness won.鈥�
Mr. 陌mamo臒lu鈥檚 party, the center-left Republican People鈥檚 Party, adopted a strategy in 2019 called 鈥渞adical love.鈥� It is a way of listening to the bread-and-butter concerns of Erdo臒an supporters while not reacting to the language of hate coming from the ruling Justice and Development Party.
鈥淭his is more than a mayoral election,鈥� Mr. 陌mamo臒lu said during the campaign. 鈥淚t is consigning a mentality to history.鈥� After his win in Istanbul, he said, 鈥淲ith this election, we have brought democracy out from within us.鈥�
As for the president, he seemed unusually contrite after his party鈥檚 major election losses in urban areas. Mr. Erdo臒an expressed 鈥渞espect鈥� for the election results 鈥� a big change from his reaction to losses in 2019 鈥� and pledged to exercise 鈥渟elf-criticism.鈥� Perhaps the opposition鈥檚 use of love tactics is not so radical.
Clayton Collins
