I, too, paid a bribe...

It is Monday, June 29, 2026. The clock shows 18:30 under the sunset view over the bay. As I was walking from İzmir Gündoğdu towards Pasaport with Özgür Özel, accompanied by an enthusiastic crowd of freedom lovers, I saw lawyer Mustafa Ülkü Caner. We greeted each other. "I'm glad you listened to my advice. You went to Muğla and became a Member of Parliament. How wonderful it is to see you among us."

While joining in the applause and slogans of the enthusiastic crowd, I suddenly found myself reflecting on the process of becoming an MP.

The year was 1999, and Turkey was about to elect members for the 21st legislative term of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM). A primary election was held for the CHP in the 1st and 2nd districts of İzmir. I, Nurettin Demir, who had little experience or background in politics, participated in the primaries in İzmir's 1st district. Gaining the great trust of the delegates, I was placed 3rd by a very small margin of votes.

Unfortunately, the CHP did not receive enough votes in the 1999 elections and failed to pass the threshold, remaining outside the TBMM. Deniz Baykal resigned, and Altan Öymen was elected Chairman.

After various political maneuvers, Deniz Baykal was re-elected Chairman, and for the 22nd term, the candidate list in İzmir was determined without holding a primary election. Baykal and his team, as they did in many provinces, did not hold primaries in İzmir, nor did they keep their promise to include the friends who had been selected in the 1999 primaries and placed in the top 5 spots on the list.

Then, no primaries were held in İzmir for the 22nd and 23rd terms of the TBMM either. Along with a few friends who were selected in the 1999 primaries, I remained off the list.

Following the cassette scandal, during Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's chairmanship, there were again no primaries in İzmir for the 24th term. If 'Çoban Sülü' (Süleyman Demirel) could be elected Prime Minister and President in this country, why shouldn't Nurettin Demir, the son of stonemason Mehmet Demir, become an MP? I was determined. My faith and energy never waned.

It was quite difficult to reach the headquarters executives. We were exhausted from waiting in front of the doors at the Headquarters. Mustafa Ülkü Caner, one of İzmir's beloved lawyers, had been assigned to assist with the elections at the Headquarters. When he saw me, he said, "Professor, don't wander around here, you have no chance. They have long forgotten the promises they made. You'd better go to Muğla. You are a hardworking party member and bureaucrat of ours. Your chances are better in Muğla. A decision for a primary election has been made in Muğla."

Starting with the 1995 elections, I increased my experience by working intensely during the election periods of 6 elections, including local elections.

And in 2011, I decided to participate in the primary election in Muğla. In addition to the experience and knowledge I gained during those 6 election periods, I entered the race with the strategies and tactics of the late lawyer Turan Karakaş. The primary race was not easy in a province like Muğla. Sure, I had a certain career, relatives, and friends. But the election was tough. As the primary process neared its end, the demands of the delegates and members never ended; in fact, they increased. People wanting meals, people expecting banquets... By the last day, the phone calls were coming one after another. Requests like, "Professor, I couldn't pay my electricity bill or my phone bill. I owe this much to the grocer, otherwise I can't walk past his shop. I haven't been able to pay my traffic fine for 6 months," were pouring in.

The ballot box was 1-2 days away. You can't give, and you can't ignore it either. I told the late Abdurrahman Sercan, whose help I will never forget, "Sercan Hoca, the other candidates are distributing lighters, pens, and notebooks. Their banquets are endless. We haven't been able to do anything, not even a small gift. Get on the phone and pay the bills, other documents, receipts, and debts that the delegates couldn't pay. Act as if I don't know about it. Take the list and handle this today and tomorrow."

Sercan Hoca said, "... don't you worry. Lighters, pens, and notebooks don't count as bribes. They fall under promotion. But even if banquets, bills, and fines count as bribes, I will handle it." If I remember correctly, he fulfilled the requests of 30-35 people. Yes, I paid bribes, even if it was a little or just enough. I confess. Everyone involved in politics in Turkey, regardless of which party they are from, has been involved in bribery to some extent.

For months, Turkey has been shaken day and night by bribery slanders and allegations everywhere. In fact, we have been living with every shade of bribery for 25 years. None of the politicians in Ankara are 'pure as snow.' Everyone has been involved in financial dealings to some degree. Ibn Khaldun said 8 centuries ago, "Economic conditions always lie beneath all social, political, and cultural events and activities."

Those who turn Turkey into a giant prison by arresting and jailing elected officials should first look at themselves. Let us get rid of this artificial structure and shame created in Turkey as soon as possible. It is a pity for our democracy and our Republic. Didn't the debts of the Ottoman era and the dirty money relations and bribery incidents of the imperialists of that period lead our country into the disaster of the capitulations? Weren't foreign ships roaming our seas freely?

Whatever you do, the people have created their own leader. Turkey will reach stability with Özgür Özel. Either a path will be opened, or a path will be found.

Today is July 1st. Happy 100th anniversary of our 'Maritime and Cabotage Day,' one of our country's achievements in independence and sovereignty.