Who ate the bread on July 15th?
When I tried to dig, he stood up.
The Fethullah Organization was going through its most unpopular period in Turkey. No one stood behind him except a few liberals. Every time a protest was held, slogans such as “FETO’s dogs cannot intimidate us” rose from the streets. Here again it is worth recalling that even in FETO’s most honorable period, there were revolutionaries, intellectuals and socialists who saw their true faces and fought against them. I would like to once again acknowledge Birgün’s achievements in the struggle. Disagreements with President Erdogan began to dissolve the accumulation of knowledge within the judiciary, police and army. The organization was fully aware of the situation, so desperately tried to stage a coup. Today, it seems to have weakened in Turkey, but what happened in Turkey after July 15th still exists in the wider region, especially in EU countries. They even roam like freedom fighters. At least in the Western countries, no one talks about how they dragged the country into the abyss, how they caused the bloodshed of thousands, and about their plots. They remain immune to the liberal Western media. What happened after July 15th has, in a way, saved them in the eyes of the West. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that their real owners did not leave them alone.
It became a country of order and community.
FETO emptied such areas and all the sects and communities in the country came to light. They settled in the province from Süleymanci to Ismaila and from there to Kubberi and Menzil and started to benefit from all its opportunities. Instead of learning from the dangers posed by the infiltration of communities and sects into the state, the AKP supported the plundering of the country in the crudest form. It continues to turn a blind eye to their recruitment, from education to healthcare and from there to the judiciary. He put under his feet huge economic opportunities that he could not control. Dozens of holdings owned by sects and congregations occupy a key position in the country’s economy. These are presented as an essential reality for Turkey but remain a major threat to its future.
State Mafia, Mafia Nation
One of the most important consequences of the July 15 coup attempt is undoubtedly the change in the ruling bloc. The gap left by FETO was so large that it could not be filled even if all sects and communities in the country were united. Something new was needed. Here the mafia appeared. The mafia had occasionally taken over the government in some areas of the state, for example in the 1990s, but for the first time it began to become so active on the political stage. As the leaders of criminal organizations were released from prison one after another, they went to the offices of their partners in power. From there the future was limitless. They reached positions of influence not only in Turkey but also in the TRNC. The big cities and coastal areas taken from FETO were distributed to the mafia by the parcel. Teams were formed within the judiciary and police. The country became a mafia plaything. The influence and impunity of the Turkish mafia allowed all the criminal organizations from around the world to flood into the country. Türkiye, the center of barons of all races and skin colors, also became a new battleground.
No benefits, but defined as doubling your salary
For Erdogan, FETO was in some sense traumatic. “Loyalty” became his number one priority. So all management levels were filled first with relatives, then their relatives, then old acquaintances, then relatives of old acquaintances. If these were not enough, he created a place to store the names he held hostage in his hands in various files. The new AKP bureaucrats showed absolute loyalty to Erdogan. But they got a lot in return. A bureaucratic elite was formed that had never existed before in the history of the republic. Thousands of managers lived in luxury, each with a small salary and felt that they had the right to act as if they were the owners of the country. They felt beholden to no one except Erdogan. One of the biggest winners after July 15 was undoubtedly the AKP bureaucrats.
From defenders of the nation to the nation itself
Since its establishment, the MHP has been an organ of the state, and sometimes even of the state. He was something like an invisible member of the National Security Council. Every time democracy and leftist forces developed in the country, the MHP and the militias acting in tandem with it started to act. Instead, they were always protected by the state. But after July 15, perhaps for the first time in their history, they had a chance. They had the power to hold the weakened Erdogan regime in power, and they did. In return, they became first the partner of the regime, and then the main component of the ideological fabric. Now the regime is unthinkable without the MHP. From a party that did all the dirty work of the state and supported it, it became almost the state itself. When the AKP and Erdogan faltered, they kept a firmer grip on the helm. The MHP became one of the biggest winners of this period.
And Erdogan and the AKP
He stopped a passing child and asked, “Who ate the most bread on July 15?” If asked, even he would definitely answer “Erdogan.” A name that has been ideologically defeated, significantly weakened organizationally, and with minimal reputation both at home and abroad, still dominates the country. It remains intact, even though its expiration date has already passed. The state of emergency and the new government that came with it became a “second spring” for President Erdogan. When he lost everything, he had the opportunity to start over by making some concessions. Although he didn’t focus much on it at the time, the past eight years have allowed him to understand the issue of “God’s grace” more deeply. The state of emergency, which was issued on July 15 and five days later, has continued through stages to the present. The new government that was formed after the referendum on April 16, 2017, also indicated the duration of the state of emergency. If there had not been a coup attempt on July 15, everything would have been much more difficult for Erdogan. The July 15 coup attempt deprived the people of the opportunity to overthrow FETO and Erdogan at the same time. The question may come to mind: “Did nothing good come from the coup attempt?” First of all, staying at the “enterprise” level is a good thing in itself. If the coup had been successful, he would have had to pay a much higher price for the ray of hope that we have created with our own hands today. And not just these:
1- Even moderate Islamists know that democracy cannot emerge from the structures of Islamism. When in a pinch, they will not hesitate to declare war on humanity, using all available weapons.
2. Dealing with the US and other imperial powers ultimately comes with a price. If you try to get too much, you lose what you have. You suddenly find your country engulfed in civil war.
3. A bright future for the country can only be achieved through the organized strength of the people. No external force or structure supported by external forces can produce results that are in the interest of the country.
4- Even if we do not see immediate results, we can survive by continuing our independent struggle with perseverance. If there is still hope for this country, it is thanks to the people who fought yesterday and today against the AKP of FETO and the AKP of the mafia MHP.
5- Earrings in the ears of the opposition: The souls sought are not in Yenikapı, but in Taksim.
