Turkey’s political landscape is likely to have an increased level of uncertainty. Despite the unprecedented power Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has vested in himself through an a la Turca Presidential system,hisdomination over society and state structure seems to be wearing out as he fails to deliver on his promises. The injusticesintroduced into the system create frustration among certain groups in Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP)and facilitate coalition formation among opposition parties. Two separate party formations by his old comradesindicate that Erdoğan exercises less control over his party. It is timely to ask whether the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP),can seize this moment of opportunity.
It takes a potent leadership, convincing programme and experienced cadre to stand up to a charismatic leader like Erdoğan. Obviously, this oldest party of Turkish Republic has to change to do so, yet, it is known for remaining in the comfort of its ideological cocoon and giving a deaf ear to such challenges. And the problem is that its ideology has a limited appeal.
Success: only through change
Yet, ideologies and party programmes are not carved in stone, not even the CHP’s. Recently, the leadership of the party indicated that they have recognized the need for changeand nominated a not-quite-left mayor for Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoğlu, who won twice against Erdoğan’s not-quite-charismatic nominee, Binali Yıldırım. Indeed, Imamoğlu raced against Erdoğan indirectly, because Yıldırım was nowhere to be found in the election process while it was Erdoğan who ran the campaign himself. In Turkish socio-politics, Istanbul is regarded as a microcosm of the country and it is popularly believed that whoever wins in Istanbul at local elections will also win in the general electionsand rule the country. Such, after all, is the story of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
