The country heading toward collapse and mayoral candidates

One of America's most important economists, Turkish-born Prof. Daron Acemoğlu, spoke to several newspapers last week and said the following:

“Freedoms are being restricted. The brightest young people, who see Turkey's future as increasingly dark, have started to leave for abroad. If a few people leave, it's not a problem, but when the number is this high, it leads to a collapse, and Turkey is on the verge of this.”

Looking at the point to which those who have governed Turkey for the last 20 years have brought the country, everyone says it is on the verge of collapse, but when Daron Acemoğlu says it, it is different. As you know, you can call a psychiatrist 'crazy' and nothing happens, but if they call you 'crazy,' you risk being committed to a mental hospital. That is why Acemoğlu's words are important. 

So, are those who have been governing Turkey for over 20 years paying attention to Acemoğlu's words? I don't think so, because they are not taking any steps to change this; they continue to do the opposite.

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What is worse is that a collapse in human resources is being observed in Turkey, not only among those who hold power and their supporters but also among the opposition.

For example, look at the selection of mayoral candidates.

There are no primaries, no preference polls, no asking the public; a gentleman or lady sitting in Ankara or Istanbul takes a pen in their hand and writes down that they have nominated this person. There is no one to ask, 'How did you choose this candidate?', 'Are they competent?', 'What will they do?', 'What is their qualification for being elected?', 'What will they contribute to the city they are to lead?', 'Was there no one better?' and no one to answer.

Then, municipalities don't get work done, and municipalities are rife with bribery and corruption. 

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The other day, I spoke with Nebil İlseven, who is a mayoral candidate for the CHP in Beşiktaş, and I asked him why he was a candidate for Beşiktaş. First of all, he is a local of Beşiktaş, and he is a former CHP Istanbul Provincial Chair whose life has been spent in corporate management and municipal consulting; in short, he is an experienced manager and politician, so it is quite reasonable for such a person to be a candidate.

But he explained more; it turns out that for six full terms, meaning 24 years, (since Ayfer Atay), not a single Beşiktaş native has been elected mayor. That is to say, for 24 years, the Beşiktaş mayoralties have been held by people who have no connection to Beşiktaş and came from elsewhere. In other words, the CHP found someone from who knows where and made them the mayor of Beşiktaş, assuming the voters wouldn't care. The result is not successful either; indeed, the previous mayor remained in custody due to allegations, and the subsequent individual rented an ultra-luxurious and expensive house with a Bosphorus view in Beşiktaş in the very first months, and then, I believe, vacated it after the rental issue was exposed; yet, for a mayor or a politician, even renting such an apartment is a controversial event that should be avoided.

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One is surprised and, as a Beşiktaş neighborhood headman (muhtar) said, thinks, "If even the opposition does this, then how can we blame others?"

There is another interesting piece of information provided by Nebil İlseven: the rate of those living in Beşiktaş who are actually from Beşiktaş is twice as high as in other districts. That is, more locals live in Beşiktaş than in any other district, but you bring in a mayor from elsewhere because they are guaranteed to be elected anyway. 

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Let me also share some other information provided by Mr. Nebil:

Beşiktaş's population is 175 thousand, 139 thousand of whom are voters. However, the number of people coming and going to the district reaches two and a half to three million daily. 60 percent of Beşiktaş residents live in 1-4 story houses. 60 percent of the district consists of reclaimed land. 60 percent of those living in Beşiktaş are over 50 years old, and only 28 percent are young.

Finally, let me write down Nebil İlseven's message regarding what he will do if elected; he says:

"Beşiktaş is mentioned even in Evliya Çelebi's Seyahatname (Book of Travels) as a place where the 'ayan' (the elite of society) and refined people lived. If I become a candidate and am elected mayor, I will strive for it to be a free, respectable, hopeful for the future, clean, orderly, safe, and dignified city."

Mr. Nebil says this, but looking at the traditions of the parties, it is clear that whoever is in management will again impose their own ideas on the voters.

But let us not forget: If every party acts this way, then we justify the domination of those who hold the power.

And are those who do not see a future in such a country and want to flee wrong?

Finally, let me add one more note; I always repeat it. Years ago, I asked a Pakistani Ambassador, "How did your neighbor Afghanistan end up like this?" He said:

“They brought ordinary, uneducated, and ignorant people from the most remote villages to manage the whole country overnight, that's why.”

Looking at all this, I suggest we heed Daron Acemoğlu's warnings.