Özgür Özel’s call for democracy to NATO leaders: Engage with Turkey’s future

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, in an article published on the international publishing platform Project Syndicate ahead of the NATO Summit, highlighted Turkey’s strategic importance within the alliance while arguing that allegations of democratic backsliding should not be ignored.

In his article, titled “The Democratic Turkey That NATO Needs,” published on a platform that also features writings by figures such as Emmanuel Macron, Ursula von der Leyen, Tony Blair, Josep Borrell, Gordon Brown, and Javier Solana, Özel called on NATO leaders to consider not only the current government but also Turkey’s democratic future in their relations with Ankara.

In his piece, Özel stated that Turkey’s geopolitical position remains important for NATO. However, he argued that the country’s fundamental issue is no longer limited to the economic crisis but is also linked to a political landscape he described as a “crisis of legitimacy.”

Recalling that the CHP emerged as the leading party in the 2024 local elections, Özel argued that the government has increased pressure on the opposition instead of accepting the election results. Stating that Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor and CHP presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu is imprisoned and that more than 30 opposition mayors are also in jail, Özel claimed that the judicial processes are political in nature.

A CALL TO NATO ALLIES

Stating that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will emphasize Turkey’s geopolitical importance at the summit, Özel noted that administrations confident in their democratic legitimacy do not need to view peaceful opposition as a threat.

At the end of his article, Özel addressed NATO allies with the following words:

“Turkey’s allies must learn to look beyond the current government and the disorder it has created. They must engage not only with those who hold power today, but also with the democratic future that they can no longer credibly represent. Governments and leaders come and go; Turkey and the people of Turkey remain.”

Emphasizing that the people of Turkey are determined to build a country that is “free and democratic at home, reliable abroad, and committed to the rule of law,” Özel noted that their goal is a Turkey that trusts its institutions and makes a constructive contribution to international peace and security.