TKH announces its Hatay candidate! Opposition competing with AKP in right-wing politics: The people of Hatay are being condemned to a dilemma

Ercan KÜÇÜK - 12punto.com.tr

As local elections approach, one of the most talked-about provinces is Hatay. With the CHP re-nominating the incumbent mayor Lütfü Savaş for the Hatay Metropolitan Municipality, Hatay has become the focus of debates, and a new candidate has emerged from the Communist Movement of Turkey (TKH). The TKH has nominated Nuray Yenil, a healthcare worker from Hatay, as its candidate for Hatay.

Yenil answered 12punto's questions. Born in Hatay and having moved from Hatay to Istanbul for university education, Yenil introduced herself with the following words:

"I was born in the Arsuz district of Hatay in 1978. I graduated from İskenderun High School in 1995. I completed my undergraduate education at Istanbul University, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation in 2000. I am a healthcare worker."

THE REAL ALTERNATIVE FOR THE WORKING PEOPLE

"I joined the socialist struggle in the ranks of the Socialist Power Party (SİP) in 1997 while I was a university student. In 2001, I took part in the re-establishment process of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) under the leadership of the SİP and served at every level of the party's organization. Since 2015, I have held various positions in the Communist Movement of Turkey, including membership in the Central Committee and secretaryship of the Women's Bureau. In 2015, I took part in the establishment of the Progressive Women's Association (İKD), which inherited an important legacy in women's struggle for equality. I continue to serve as the General Secretary at the İKD. I have contributed with my articles to Gazete Manifesto and Yurtsever News Portal, as well as the newspapers Sosyalist Cumhuriyet and Yurtsever. I am married and a mother of one child.

Communists see inequality and the system of exploitation at the root of social problems. Therefore, the primary goal of communists is to change this system of exploitation and build an egalitarian social order. We evaluate election periods within this integrity as well. Today, when we look at Hatay, we do not only see a city turned into rubble, but we also see a rotten system that has taken tens of thousands of our citizens from us through policies of rent-seeking and plunder. In the elections, we will continue our work with our manifesto for communal municipalism and we will strengthen the real alternative for the working people, the socialist alternative."

RIGHT-WING COMPETITION

Answering the question about the vote share they expect, Yenil emphasized that the people of Hatay are being condemned to a dilemma. Yenil spoke as follows:

"The people of Hatay are being condemned to a dilemma today. On one side, there is the AKP government that openly threatens the people, and on the other, there is an establishment opposition that competes with the AKP in right-wing politics. The people of Hatay will not bow to threats today, just as they did not in the past, and they will not give credit to those who engage in a right-wing competition. In this respect, we have no doubt that the socialist alternative will find strong support on March 31."

MEETINGS WERE HELD, NO ALLIANCE COULD BE FORMED

For years, the unification of the left and socialists has been discussed and debated. This debate has come to the agenda again for Hatay. In her answer to the question "Where does the left diverge in Hatay?", Yenil said that a series of meetings and discussions were held between socialist parties and institutions, but an alliance could not be formed.

Yenil continued as follows:

"First of all, I would like to say that the concepts of right and left need to be redefined today. I think there is a deliberate distortion here and ideological ambiguity is being created. The left is public-oriented, enlightenment-oriented, and independent. The left stands with labor against the profit greed of capital. In this respect, we do not find it correct to evaluate the CHP, which represents one wing of the capital order, says yes to the expansion of NATO, and acts hesitantly in embracing secularism, as a left-wing party. The CHP was the architect of a right-wing alliance in the last elections. The deputies brought to the Parliament with this alliance have returned to their true colors today and have fallen into the wake of the AKP. The CHP's choice and insistence on a candidate in Hatay is also diametrically opposed to left-wing principles."

WE ARE NEITHER RIGHT-WING NOR LEFT-WING, WE ARE FOOTBALLERS

"Apart from this, the alliance of socialists is of course an agenda worth discussing on every level. Socialist parties and institutions held a series of meetings and discussions in this direction for the local elections. We also took part in this process. However, different approaches emerged and unfortunately, an alliance could not be formed. This is a long subject of debate, there is a limit to discussing it properly here. Briefly, I can say this: the ideological ambiguity I tried to express at the beginning has unfortunately also permeated the socialist movement. I think that especially after the Gezi protests, the fact that politics was indexed to the ballot box and the policy of 'making the AKP lose' caused the left to partially attach itself to the establishment opposition. From this comes sameness and assimilation; principles are cast aside. Bargaining begins to replace program discussions. Populist politics becomes dominant. Therefore, those who were candidates from a right-wing party yesterday can transfer to a left-wing party today. Look, there is no ideological or programmatic preference here; no offense intended, but there is a saying: 'We are neither right-wing nor left-wing, we are footballers, footballers'—this is that mentality. From this comes apoliticism; the right gets stronger, and left-wing politics fades. As the Communist Movement of Turkey, we reject this approach. Today in Hatay, people should come together around a left-wing program that puts the interests and welfare of the working people first."

COMPETING WITH AKP IN RIGHT-WING POLITICS: LÜTFÜ SAVAŞ

Yenil evaluated the reasons for the CHP's insistence on Lütfü Savaş as follows:

"The insistence on Lütfü Savaş is the CHP's political preference and its competition with the AKP in right-wing politics. They have been saying for years that the voter is right-wing, so one must appeal to the right. Look, this is alienation from the country and losing hope in the country. They talk about change day and night, but this policy is actually a declaration that they do not believe in change at all. The people of Turkey have been right-wingized and condemned to right-wing politics. This process is not new; the same scenario has been in play since 1980. It started with the support of ANAP in the name of democracy against the coup law, reached the 'not enough but yes' line against military tutelage, and continues today."

CANDIDATES IN 30 METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITIES AND 50 PROVINCES

Yenil explained their stance if Lütfü Savaş were to withdraw from candidacy as follows:

"Lütfü Savaş has become the most typical symbol of the policy followed by the CHP. However, he is only a symbol. Even if the candidate changes, the CHP's policy is essentially the same. Our stance in the elections is clear, not only in Hatay but throughout Turkey. The Communist Movement of Turkey will take its place in the elections with its candidates in 30 metropolitan municipalities and 50 provinces to strengthen the socialist alternative with its manifesto and program for communal municipalism. Therefore, there is no question of us giving up our candidacy." Hatay has also faced many problems after the earthquake.

Yenil listed the problems that need to be prioritized and solved in Hatay as follows:

"Hatay is one of the provinces where the greatest destruction occurred in the earthquake. After the earthquake, many of our citizens migrated to other provinces. Tens of thousands of our citizens are trying to continue their lives in containers and tents. Rising rents in the region further increase the housing problem. On the other hand, the infrastructure was significantly damaged by the earthquake. Basic services such as access to clean water, transportation, communication, education, and health are disrupted, as are frequent power outages. We are facing piles of rubble rising due to the ongoing demolitions in the city and many problems associated with them. The people of Hatay are facing great uncertainty. Public resources must be mobilized for the reconstruction of the city as soon as possible."

HOW WILL HATAY TRULY RISE AGAIN?

“The way for Hatay to rise again is through a public-oriented program and the meeting of the organized power of the working people. Local governments must be saved from the dominance of capital, the plundering of public resources by bosses, and the commercialization of public services. All problems must be handled with a public-oriented understanding. As we stated in our manifesto for communal municipalism: 'Under the administration of communists, in the face of market anarchy and the destruction created by capital, all services will be carried out by the public, and public enterprises will be established. Subcontracted labor will be completely abolished. All local services will be provided by the municipality, and no public service will be tendered. The source of corruption and bribery will be dried up.

In all provinces where the earthquake disaster occurred, housing for a humane life will be provided to every citizen free of charge by the state itself. The reconstruction of all cities that experienced the earthquake disaster will be carried out by public resources and with a public-oriented plan.' In addition to a public-oriented understanding, ensuring the organized participation of the people in administration is another important heading.

As we stated in our manifesto again: 'Under the administration of communists, the people's having a say in local governments will be made permanent, and the right to audit, speak, authorize, and decide on the administration will be guaranteed. Neighborhood assemblies will be established in every neighborhood. District assemblies will be formed with representatives from neighborhood assemblies, organized unions in workplaces, and professional organizations. The needs, demands, and problems of the working people will be met through participation from the bottom up via local assemblies. Planning centers will be established in all localities for the effective use of resources and the planning of social needs. Local governments will be shaped by planning centers to be formed by professional organizations, universities, and scientists.'"