People's Assembly of Turkey meets in Ankara: Rally decided for October 27

The People's Assembly of Turkey (THTM) held its second general assembly meeting in Ankara on Sunday, April 21.

THTM members shared a common view on the necessity for the Assembly to intervene with its own principles and truths in response to the situation that emerged in the country following the March 31 elections. Furthermore, the assessment that both the government and the opposition have reached a consensus on economic policies, which are expected to last for several years, played a role in this decision.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT MONITORING COMMISSION

Similarly, it was decided to establish a Local Government Monitoring commission within the Assembly. The commission will monitor the activities of the new local governments elected last month and it was decided to take action in the event of any potential negative developments.

THE MOST EMPHASIZED TOPIC: LOCAL ASSEMBLIES

The topic discussed by the highest number of representatives at the meeting was the establishment of THTM's local people's assemblies. While the representatives agreed on spreading the struggle to local levels, they decided to avoid creating inward-looking formations that lack real social support and exist only in name. The THTM General Assembly decided to establish local assemblies in the first phase in the Defne district of Hatay, the Kadıköy and Kartal districts of Istanbul, and the Çiğli and Urla districts of Izmir.

RALLY DECIDED FOR OCTOBER 27

The THTM also decided to implement an effective action plan against the US and NATO. Within the scope of the plan, it was decided to organize a march to the Incirlik base in September, to hold panels and events regarding NATO in numerous provinces throughout September, to organize anti-NATO caricature and painting competitions and exhibit the works nationwide, and to organize a major anti-US and anti-NATO rally in Istanbul on October 27.

Topics such as secularism, ÇEDES, and labor struggles were also addressed at the general assembly. The roadmap for the Assembly and Labor Struggles Commission and the Education Commission was detailed on these topics. Action plans to improve relations with relevant social segments were decided upon for all these topics.

OYAN REPORTED ON THE WORK

The opening speech of the meeting was delivered by Assembly Spokesperson Prof. Dr. Oğuz Oyan. Oyan reported on the work carried out since January 7, when the first general assembly of the THTM was held. Recalling the activities of the working commissions and the reports shared with the public, Oyan said, "We could not make much progress in terms of organization because the election work was very intense. Now we will close this gap."

"IT MUST BECOME POLITICIZED"

Stating that the organization of the THTM has been carried out on a provincial basis, Oyan said, "From now on, the main organizational model of the THTM will be through local assemblies." He added, "The THTM cannot continue as an institution that only carries out commission work and writes and publishes reports. The THTM must intervene in Turkey's agenda and bring the public's agenda and politics together. As we do this, the interest and trust in the THTM will increase. In this respect, we must politicize the THTM."

Stating that the necessity of following municipalities along with local elections has been added to the activities of monitoring the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), Oyan assessed, "When actions contrary to public interest are taken in these places, the THTM must intervene strongly. But this must be done through local assemblies; we cannot do this from Ankara."

Oyan expressed that they attach importance to the political Islamist ruling party becoming the second party for the first time in the March 31 local elections, and that they are aware that this is a result of the public's reaction to anti-labor policies.

Oyan touched upon the new Constitution discussions that came back to the agenda after the elections: "This TBMM does not have the legitimacy to draft a new Constitution. If the opposition parties, especially the main opposition, waver here and become part of the process, the popular forces must react to this."

Oyan stated that it is seen that the establishment opposition will not produce any alternative to the implicit IMF policies that emerged after the election, and said, "This is also a topic we need to take onto our agenda." The THTM Spokesperson pointed out that there are all the signs that a more pro-NATO line is being approached in foreign policy as well.

Oyan underlined that the THTM should develop a stance not only against right-wing forces but also against the attitudes of forces that appear left-wing but are not anti-imperialist, are not outside the establishment, and do not defend secularism.

"THE ELECTION CONDEMNS THE PEOPLE OF TURKEY"

TKP General Secretary Kemal Okuyan gave a speech regarding the motion submitted to the general assembly on how and in what direction the THTM will intervene in Turkish politics. Okuyan stated that the motions submitted to the THTM general assembly demonstrate that this formation will not turn into another platform where intellectuals write reports and are content with written production but do not intervene in politics.

Okuyan said, "We need to change this thinking in the Turkish society, which has been accustomed to thinking in an election-oriented manner, and in the left in a broad sense. Elections are the foundation of what we call establishment politics. At one point, doing politics outside of elections was even accused of being putschist. But what is sad is that the Turkish left, which should be questioning this today, has almost entirely limited its world to elections. While the THTM does not currently have an election agenda, it must show that real political channels and the guarantee of future elections are political struggles on the street. Election-oriented thinking condemns the people of Turkey."

Regarding the picture presented by an Erdoğan who does not shout and yell after the election, a media that calls for reconciliation, and a main opposition leader who speaks with words like 'respect for the office,' Okuyan said, "They do not want any noise until 2028. If this bait is swallowed, if they ensure that there is a working class that does not react for two years, and intellectuals who do not react, the people will have no chance against a relative relief that will come afterwards, against a kind of capital spring. We, as the THTM, have to take on a pioneering role here."

Okuyan said, "If we spend this time trying to pull the main opposition party to the left and transform it, we cannot do anything. All major companies have changed their medium and long-term plans; what they need is a process where the working class does not move for at least two years. We must put forward a claim against this. This is the right time."

The TKP General Secretary stated that a trend that began before the earthquake is continuing, that there are shifts in the public's ideological attitudes, and that the election results show this, adding, "Perhaps the society is motionless, but there is a movement in minds. If revolutionaries and republicans do not address this movement, a historic opportunity will be lost. Because most likely, this search will start to decline after two years. For this reason, the THTM needs to present a dynamic, tough, and sometimes counter-current, lively image."

MEHMET ŞİMŞEK CRITICIZED

Stating that the objection to the IMF program created by Mehmet Şimşek's team in Turkey's establishment politics only comes from the far right, Okuyan said, "You know, the Şimşek team was the darling of the opposition. Their arrival was met with applause. This is a great shame."

Stating that Oğuz Oyan pointed to a very correct point, Okuyan said, "Entering into a constitutional discussion with the AKP is treason; this must be prevented. But when this agenda is opened, we must present alternatives in every dimension, including how a constitution should be changed."

Okuyan said, "The feature of the THTM should be to unite the intellectual elements of the republican accumulation in Turkey with the elements in the social sphere; this is very exciting. We have the means. A friend of ours who is a THTM member received 39 percent of the vote in a district that is not small, and missed the victory by a hair's breadth. Today, they are waiting for this assembly to make a decision to establish a very strong local people's assembly in Defne; they are ready."