Take your flags and go play elsewhere

As the local elections approach, the election arena has begun to turn into a 'Company of Shared Wonders.'

Some talk about conquering Istanbul, others about weaving Ankara with iron nets!

Another is running because they share the same name as their rival, but no one has seen or heard of them!

One is running to manage Istanbul but confuses which district is on which side of the city. 

Another is dancing and singing. 

Yet another candidate is promising a pink bus. They intend to put women on a separate bus!

They justify this with the following words: “An understanding that sees today's picture as fair, beautiful, and egalitarian is a distorted understanding. I am saying it clearly: to deem this journey on the metrobus during morning and evening rush hours acceptable for women, girls, and the elderly is cruelty.”

There are those shuttling between parties; there is no such transfer market even in football.

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For instance, there are also acts of heroism that the public calls 'shifting into reverse';

Murat Kurum, the People's Alliance candidate for Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality mayor, appeared on state television and challenged his rival, saying, “Ekrem İmamoğlu cannot discuss projects with me. He cannot even discuss Istanbul because he doesn't know it.” 

Ekrem İmamoğlu announced that he was 'without hesitation' open to facing him in a live broadcast. 

So, what happened next?

Kurum remembered the government's tradition of nearly twenty years of not appearing before a rival.

And he said; “The calls of those who do not see Istanbul to discuss Istanbul with us today are not sincere. If Istanbul is to be discussed, we are ready to discuss every project in any setting. The perspective is not sincere. We are open to every invitation, but first, they must show their sincerity.”

One must ask, despite his rival saying “I am unconditionally in,” what made Kurum think he was not sincere?

He says “not sincere,” but when will we see two political rivals face-to-face and decide for ourselves on their sincerity?

Politics has reached such a state that one calls a wrestler to the mat saying, “Come on, if you have the courage, face me...” and then avoids the match by saying, “You are not in my weight class, I cannot wrestle with you.” 

That is why the very meaning of challenging someone in the public square has been hollowed out. Shout, scream, insult, but do not face them!

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Election time doesn't just tire the nation in this way, of course…

In big cities, we cannot see the sky because of the flags and banners hung from building to building by candidates.

We must not forget the election bus terror that grates on the ears from the crack of dawn until night. 

And what about what happens in front of election tents…

Are you looking for those who bicker, insult, and threaten with the police? Are you looking for party members calling their acquaintances saying, “Hurry up and come here, there is a traitor here”? Or are you looking for a tent attendant shouting “Back off” at a visiting mayor… It’s all there!

The real question is: “Is all this commotion a passion for serving the citizens?”

Those who answer “Yes,” please do not read the rest of this article…

Because the citizen is not concerned with your cheap heroics, your bullying, or your utopian projects. The citizen is not thinking about your seat-seeking, but about the inside of their empty market bag!

The hunger threshold is 16 thousand 257 liras…

The poverty threshold has exceeded 50 thousand liras!

The cost of living for a single worker has risen to 21 thousand 189 TL per month. In other words, they cannot support themselves on the minimum wage.

TÜRK-İŞ’s February research reveals this.

Now, take your flags and go play elsewhere. The nation is not concerned with flags; it is trying to feed itself. 

Any party or leader asking for votes, these local elections are the final turn. 

In the next general elections, neither buses, nor dances, nor canals, nor alliances will be of any use. 

Any party that cannot put forward an economic development package by the general election will bring about its own downfall!