Fatih Altaylı explains the difference between AKP and CHP voters: 'One unites, the other divides'

Journalist Fatih Altaylı stated in an article addressing the differences between AKP and CHP voters that the political reflexes of the two groups have diverged. Altaylı expressed that government supporters act together despite their differences, while opposition voters divide even over minor disagreements. The article emphasized that this situation is a factor in the opposition's failure.

In his article titled "The differences between government supporters and opposition supporters," published on his own website, Fatih Altaylı stated that "government supporters trust their leaders even if they do not agree with something they have done, saying 'they must know something,' whereas opposition supporters open the leadership to debate at the 'slightest misstep' of the leader."

Altaylı's article is as follows:

"You are probably wondering how the opposition can still be unsuccessful while Turkey is in this state.

Let me explain.

Let the government be called the AK Party and the opposition be called the CHP.

Let's say those who support the government think differently on 999 out of 1,000 issues and only share the same opinion on one issue; they continue to support the government, that one issue continues to unite them, and they do not take the 999 differences into account at all.

Those who support the opposition, on the other hand, are the exact opposite; let's say they think the same on 999 out of 1,000 issues, but if they think differently on one issue, they immediately divide and start to smear and disparage one another. A single disagreement is enough for them to fight, rather than the 999 points of consensus.

Those who support the government keep their doors open even to those who have directed the harshest criticisms at them in the past; they immediately accept those who come to their side, even if they have cursed the government, and they do not keep score of the past by saying 'you said this to me, you did that, you did this.' If they are on their side that day, that is enough for them.

Opposition supporters, however, never accept someone who breaks away from the government and comes to their side; they make life miserable for those who want to join by saying 'you said this yesterday, you did that, you were like this, you were like that,' and they never accept them.

The government's party organization strives to gain new members for the party, immediately gives tasks to newcomers, sends them to the field, and makes them work; even now, when no one else is coming, they are still going door-to-door trying to win people over.

The opposition's party organization, on the other hand, tries to prevent new members from joining the party; even if Özgür Özel tries to open the doors, it is still not easy to get in.

The government immediately mobilizes those who join the party and makes them work like soldiers. It gives them tasks. It includes them in the organization.

In the opposition, however, the old guard does not generally look favorably upon newcomers because they see themselves as the owners of the party. Those who join the party are not given proper tasks, and new members do not know what to do. In some places, this has started to break, but old habits still prevail.

Government supporters trust the journalists or intellectuals they see as their spokespeople despite all their mistakes, and even their insolence and corruption, and they do not let a speck of dust settle on them. Even if they fight behind closed doors, or even if they do not actually trust them, they do not openly criticize them; they stand by them.

Opposition supporters, however, can spew hatred at their own journalists and intellectuals who take risks on their behalf, withstand the government's attacks, and have even spent 2-3 years in prison, just because they asked a minister a question or mentioned a statement made by a minister, and they can immediately accuse them of being sellouts.

Government supporters trust their leaders even if they do not agree with something they have done or said, saying 'they must know something' or 'if they are making a mistake, they will correct it after a while.'

Opposition supporters, however, open the leadership to debate at the slightest misstep of the leader and start attacking and berating the leader.

Government supporters know that what matters is remaining in power and they take their stance accordingly.

Opposition supporters, however, resist understanding that coming to power is the most important goal.

Of course, there are other reasons, and we will touch upon them one day, but these are the problems that are easiest to solve.

Will they be solved!

I don't know.

If they are not solved, I know that the opposition's job, and the opposition leader's job, is very difficult."

News Source: 12punto