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This article was originally written for Türkiye Today’s weekly newsletter, Saturday's Wrap-up, in its Oct. 4 issue. Please make sure you are subscribed to the newsletter by clicking here.
Two photos that were shared by the Turkish presidency’s X account this week, after a reception for the opening of the new legislative year, drew my attention to Türkiye’s domestic politics for this week’s newsletter.
One of the photos captured a moment in which Kurdish-leaning DEM Party officials looked at Erdogan almost with admiration. Most of the Kurdish politicians who are around Erdogan, and eager to have a solid handshake, were imprisoned or ousted as MPs or mayors in the last two decades. Yet, with the new Kurdish opening, showing warmth to Erdogan may be a way to keep the process moving toward better outcomes. The Kurdish political elite’s final wish is to free the terrorist organization's head, Abdullah Ocalan. Having this ultimate goal makes them ignore CHP’s wishes to form a grand opposition coalition against Erdogan.
At a time when CHP openly questions Erdogan’s legitimacy, mainly due to Imamoglu’s imprisonment, and other politically motivated trials, as CHP claims, and calls for early elections, Erdogan’s enduring popularity and charm for the Turkish political elite prove that he still has many cards left to play. Seasoned pro-opposition journalist Murat Yetkin wrote that sharing these photos may be intended to give an impression of forming a united front against CHP.
In another photo, some other opposition parties are seen sitting around Erdogan, engaged in a group conversation with all their attention directed toward the president. At a time when CHP openly questions Erdogan’s legitimacy, mainly due to Imamoglu’s imprisonment, and other politically motivated trials, and calls for early elections, Erdogan’s enduring popularity and charm for the Turkish political elite prove that he still has many cards left to play.
Let’s go back to the beginning of the day. The opening of the 28th Legislative Term’s fourth year in the Turkish Parliament began under controversy. The main opposition CHP boycotted the session in protest against Erdogan’s participation.
Images of smiling exchanges between Erdogan and opposition leaders triggered intense backlash against the opposition figures who appeared alongside him. On social media, many CHP supporters criticized these leaders and journalists for giving the impression of admiration instead of maintaining a stance against the government coalition and the president.
The strongest criticism was directed at Kurdish-oriented DEM Party co-chairs Tuncer Bakirhan and Tulay Hatimogullari, whose presence at Erdogan’s side was interpreted as a natural outcome of the government’s “terror-free Türkiye” project, which has emphasized dialogue with prominent politicians among the Kurdish political movement.
At the same time, former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, now chairman of the Future Party, and former Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan, head of the DEVA Party, were seen shaking hands and sitting next to Erdogan.
For CHP voters, these scenes symbolized a broader erosion of opposition unity and cast doubt on the credibility of leaders who once positioned themselves as Erdogan’s critics.
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