Ayşe Gülsün Bilgehan at the Council of Europe building in Strasbourg.Başak Polat: Dear Ms. Bilgehan, welcome to the World Forum for Democracy 2017. As you know, this year's title is ''Is populism a problem?'' As an MP, how would you answer the question? Do you think it is a problem? If so, why?
Ayşe Gülsün Bilgehan: Yes, I do think that populism is a problem. In fact, it is a global one. As we have seen during some of the discussions at the Forum, populism is perceived as a problem by the majority of the participants. When you look up the term populism, you will notice that it is a political logic based on negative emotions. The recent elections and referendums have proved the danger of populist ideas. However, they still attract voters from all around the world.
I believe that there is a need for a transformation in the mindset of politicians. Voters should bear the danger of populism in mind when giving a chance to new ideas and perspectives advocated by candidates.
