The effort of all layers of society to profit from politics and the 'Apo' love of AKP supporters

The transformation of the perspective on politics in Turkey into a tool for personal gain is one of the painful realities of our country.

Opportunism and its connection to politics have permeated everyone, from the lowest and least educated segments of society to the most educated and economically powerful layers.

It is obvious that this is done with great hypocrisy.

Among the thousands of videos and news stories I have encountered recently, one of the most striking spread rapidly on social media yesterday. This video, which seems simple and which some find funny, actually told much more than what was visible.

As is known, we are in the midst of yet another one of the "reconciliation processes" that have been tried many times and resulted in failure.

Following the call made by Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahçeli at his party's group meeting to Abdullah Öcalan, the founder and leader of the terrorist organization PKK, to "Come and speak in Parliament," President Erdoğan also supported the process, and interesting developments began to occur one after another.

While the judiciary ruthlessly suppressed dissidents, and journalists and students were being detained, hardened terrorists were released so that the process would not be harmed.

Numerous images that touched the nerves of society were published; celebrations and events with Apo posters were practically shoved in the public's face.

The government did not take a step back despite all these risks. Clearly, interests outweigh everything else, and the pressure from those imposing this process was also strong.

The People's Alliance's support for the process, what is aimed for, and what results it will produce are known and foreseen by a significant portion of society.

However, another reality must be addressed: The hypocrisy of society.

The video in question, thought to have been filmed the other day, clearly revealed this.

While two young men are walking, they chat with a lady, whom I assume to be over middle age, at a stand set up by the AKP to recruit members.

It is known that the AKP specifically prefers these "aunt profiles."

The message is simple: We are one of you. We are one of the broadest segments of society, one of your mothers, one of your aunts. This method has been very effective; for years, the opposition has preferred to ignore these strategies of the AKP instead of learning from them.

Let's return to our topic. One of the young men, mocking the reconciliation process, says he is a member of the AKP and is happy about Öcalan's liberation. He is trolling the AKP woman by using irony.

The dialogue is as follows:

Young man: - Are you collecting signatures here?

Woman: It's a membership campaign for the AK Party.

Y: I'm already a member.

W: Are you receiving messages?

Y: Yes, I am.

W: Okay, no problem.

Y: I wanted to thank you. You are releasing Chairman Apo. Thank you very much. Always do things like this.

W: Are you a member, though?

OTHER YOUNG MAN: No.

Y: He doesn't like Apo.

W: Let him not like him, let him like our President.

Y: But he released Abdullah Öcalan, he's angry about that.

W: But there are other things involved too, you know. The election...

Y: What do you mean? No, my dear, don't talk nonsense. The man is releasing Leader Apo, what more could he do?

OTHER YOUNG MAN: I don't like it.

W: Don't you see the other work of our President, though?

Y: He's not working, sister, he's just releasing Apo.

W: How can that be?

Y: I didn't like him normally. I wouldn't have liked him if he hadn't released Apo.

W: Where did you become a member, then?

Y: I came from the mountains, sister.

W: Do they recruit members there?

Y: No, it happened after I came here. There was a stand, I became a member there.

W: We are pleased.

Y: We are too. You like Leader Apo too.

W: Of course, what do you mean.

Y: I understand, thank you.

The dialogue shows that the people collecting signatures for the party in the lower segments of society are not actually as "naive" as thought. Most of them take a position as circumstances require. They seek personal gain within the framework of the opportunities granted to them.

I express with regret that the fundamental problem of dirty politics in Turkey stems from the dirty mentality of a significant segment of society, their appetite for personal gain, and their lack of conscience and morality.

This is such a deficiency that an organization and its leader, whom they called "terrorists" for years, can suddenly turn into a "leader." While the martyrs, whose names were once used to 'harvest votes,' are long gone, PKK members are declared brothers.

Because his party remaining in power means certain opportunities for him: a job in the municipality, financial aid, or a salaried job opportunity for his son. This interest-oriented approach covers up the facts. While just yesterday the PKK was a vicious terrorist organization, today someone who says "I came from the mountains" can be asked, "Do they recruit members there too?"

Yet, morality and conscience mean being able to reject unfair gain and betrayal when you have the opportunity. The skill is not to acquire wealth through cunning, trickery, and hypocrisy; it is to be able to say "no" to unfair opportunities.

There is not much more to say.

The dialogue between the woman doing membership procedures at the AKP stand and the young men passing by went viral on social media

- You are releasing Chairman Apo. Thank you very much. Always do things like this.

- Where did you become a member, then?

- I came from the mountains, sister.

- Do they recruit members there?

- No, after I came here… pic.twitter.com/0ffyCKEoD8

— 12punto (@12puntocomtr) September 11, 2025