THTM Spokesperson Oğuz Oyan speaks to 12punto: "We will fulfill our responsibilities in the struggle for secularism"

ERCAN KÜÇÜK

Setting out with the goal of a secular, independent, sovereign, and egalitarian Turkey, the People's Representatives Assembly of Turkey (THTM) is continuing its efforts to involve Republicans in the struggle as it completes its 2nd year. In this context, THTM organized the Congress of Republicans (CK) in May 2025 with the participation of many mass organizations.

THTM will convene its 6th General Assembly on October 25, and the Congress of Republicans is also preparing for a new meeting in November.

Various assemblies and platforms have been established in Turkey before, but they have not been long-lasting. So, will THTM and CK be able to be permanent? Why is the Union of Republicans important? We spoke with THTM Spokesperson Prof. Dr. Oğuz Oyan about the struggle THTM has waged over the past 2 years and the roadmap of the Congress of Republicans it leads.

SOLIDARITY IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST NATO

Ercan Küçük: What progress has THTM made in terms of becoming a mass movement?

Oğuz Oyan: If we consider that the establishment efforts of THTM began in the autumn of 2023, we can say that we have completed our second year. Even if we start our national establishment date from January 2024, we are very close to officially completing two years. We will have held our 6th General Assembly this coming October 25.

THTM has spent these two years productively. While navigating a highly volatile political and social landscape, it has been in an effort to develop new forms of action and organization around its main founding principles. These efforts, of course, also created opportunities to embrace new masses.

In our first year, we found opportunities to show how determined we are in our stance against imperialism. The arrival of a US warship at the port of Izmir was certainly not a situation we prepared, but THTM also had a hand in organizing the reactions against it. In fact, this visit contributed to our independence-oriented stance standing out more, as it coincided with the "March Against NATO and Imperialist Wars" action that THTM carried out between Istanbul Kartal and Adana Incirlik in September 2024.

Since our establishment, we have been in contact with various labor organizations and Republican institutions. As we try to fulfill our responsibilities as THTM in terms of ensuring that the torch of the Republic's enlightenment does not go out against the reactionary attacks that have been intensified for a quarter of a century, and that the struggle for secularism can be sustained without falling into despair, we have also given top priority to being in solidarity and unity of action with individuals and organizations that share similar concerns. The idea of convening a Congress of Republicans, which we decided upon at our fourth general assembly, that is, in January 2025, already proceeded from here.

THE NEED TO MEET IN COLLECTIVE STRUGGLE

E.K: The Congress of Republicans was held in May. From what need was the Congress of Republicans born?

O.O: The Congress of Republicans was born at a time when the principles and institutions of the Republic were being completely destroyed by the political Islamist government. The growing need to bring together all segments of society that unite on the common denominator of the Union of Republicans on a collective axis of struggle led THTM to turn its direction here.

The Congress of Republicans was designed as an effective tool to resist a despotic government that has become increasingly aggressive out of the discomfort of not being able to erase the idea of the Republic from the memory of society while plundering all the gains of the Republic, and that recklessly uses the state's instruments of violence such as law enforcement and the judiciary. Indeed, how accurate the timing of this decision we made in January 2025 was became clearer with the government's attacks that intensified after March 19.

WORKING GROUPS NEAR COMPLETION

E.K: Why is the Union of Republicans important? How will the process continue?

O.O: The Congress of Republicans we organized in May 2025 received more attention than we expected. The contacts we established before this Congress, as well as the enlightenment and independence-oriented line that THTM has pursued decisively until that moment, were effective in ensuring that progressive organizations and individuals with a strong Republican vein supported our event.

Support and solidarity for the Congress were shown by ensuring that high-level representatives of their own institutions attended the Congress or by sending support messages on behalf of individuals and institutions. Those who volunteered to provide more active and continuous support took roles within the Working Groups established at the Congress. Now, the reports of these Working Groups have reached the completion stage and will be shared at a face-to-face meeting in Ankara in November.

UNITY, NOT POLITICAL PARTY COMPETITION

E.K: Others who define themselves on the left, on the progressive side, have also established many assemblies, platforms, etc. before. What will be the difference of the Congress of Republicans? What will be the organization and action strategy of the CK? Will we see the CK on the streets, in actions?

O.O: The Congress of Republicans set out with the goal of bringing together socialists/communists with all Republican, left-wing Kemalist, and progressive individuals, institutions, and movements, and it has been successful in this so far. Undoubtedly, there is much to be done to become more of a mass movement on this path. As THTM, which set the Congress of Republicans in motion, we do not look favorably on the representation of political parties in the CK in principle because we do not want political party rivalries to come to the fore here. The active role that the TKP played in the formation of THTM and the CK does not constitute an exception to this because the TKP is not represented as a party in these formations either.

The goal we want to reach is the formation of the broadest Republican front against the reactionary government and its transformation into an effective power in the political sense. The Union of Republicans is indispensable for this. In this context, a Congress of Republicans, which will be considered to have reached its first goal by ensuring the Union of Republicans, is starting from a more massive point, that is, further ahead, than many left/progressive platforms established so far. Furthermore, we distinguish ourselves from other platforms because we see the Union of Republicans not only in terms of the struggle for enlightenment and independence but also as a strong step towards establishing the republic of the laborers.

THTM implements an action strategy that closely follows the country's agenda through the mechanism of the Congress of Republicans and the goal of the Union of Republicans. In this context, it tries to both develop itself and capture a new ground for organization by being with the people in the processes of solving those problems without breaking away from the problems of the people.