Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu breaks his long silence: He recalled that statement by Erdoğan!

The 4th hearing of the lawsuit filed regarding the 38th Ordinary Congress, where Özgür Özel won the CHP chairmanship, was held in Ankara yesterday. In the hearing, which started at 10:00 AM, the court decided to adjourn the case as an interim ruling.

During the hearing, the plaintiff's side made an explicit request for the first time. They demanded that Özgür Özel and his administration be removed from office until the conclusion of the lawsuit and that former chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu be appointed as a trustee in their place.

CALLS TO KILIÇDAROĞLU REMAINED UNANSWERED

Prior to the lawsuit, numerous calls were made to Kılıçdaroğlu from both within the CHP and the public. These calls urged Kılıçdaroğlu to break his silence and put an end to the uncertainty. However, Kılıçdaroğlu did not respond to these demands. This silence led to interpretations that it was a preparation for a possible appointment following a court decision.

FOLLOWED THE HEARING FROM HIS HOME

While CHP Chairman Özgür Özel followed the hearing from the party headquarters, Kılıçdaroğlu watched it from his home. After the adjournment decision, Kılıçdaroğlu went to his office in Ankara with his lawyer.

KILIÇDAROĞLU BROKE HIS SILENCE WITH AN OP-ED

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who had maintained his silence for a long time, wrote an op-ed as a guest contributor for T24 yesterday. In the article titled "Towards a new world order," Kılıçdaroğlu did not make any assessment regarding the congress or the lawsuit. Starting his article with Antonio Gramsci's quote, "the old is dying and the new cannot be born," Kılıçdaroğlu shared his views on the three waves of globalization.

Stating in his article that Turkey has entered this period with economic bottlenecks, weakening institutions, and authoritarian tendencies, Kılıçdaroğlu explained what Turkey needs to do.

Kılıçdaroğlu's article is as follows:

The world is going through a painful interim period, in the words of Antonio Gramsci, where "the old is dying and the new cannot be born." The rules and institutions that serve as the cement of international relations are cracking. The liberal order, once presented as the "end of history," now resembles a structure that is virtually dissolving from within.

At the point we have reached, even globalization itself is being questioned. Beyond its sterile definition on Wikipedia, globalization is fundamentally a power struggle. The circulation of goods, ideas, and cultures offers an attractive facade; however, behind the curtain, there is a fierce struggle between states, corporations, capital groups, and labor.

Globalization in three waves…

History has shown us three great waves of globalization.

The first wave rose in the late 19th century, led by the British industrial empire. Thanks to steamships, railways, and the telegraph, trade and capital flows accelerated. But this first wave was destroyed by the First World War and the Great Depression of 1929. What followed was inward-looking, protectionism, and the rise of fascism.

The second wave was born after the Second World War under the leadership of the USA. The IMF, the World Bank, the Bretton Woods system… During this period, rules governing the functioning of global capitalism were established. With the influence of the competition brought by the Cold War, broad masses of people received a share of relative prosperity. This period, which Eric Hobsbawm called the "golden age of capitalism," ended with the crises of the 1970s.

The third wave began in the 1980s. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the USA tried to establish a unipolar world. But in this third wave, the locomotive was not just states; multinational corporations appeared on the scene. Production chains were broken apart, and factories were moved to Asia for cheap labor. Millions in China and India were lifted out of poverty, but income inequality grew in every country, and labor's share of income decreased. Capital won, workers lost.

The age of techno-feudal lords…

At the point we have reached today, global corporations have effectively established a new empire. As of 2024, the world's 500 largest companies generate revenue exceeding 41 trillion dollars. This figure is more than one-third of the world's output. As Varoufakis says, we are facing techno-feudal lords. They do not control land, but digital platforms, big data, and online markets.

These giants shape not only trade but also politics. They restrain national governments with investments and intervene directly in decision-making processes. They can even influence the election processes of other countries. Global capitalism has turned into a power that challenges democracy in the classical sense.

Economist Dani Rodrik's "impossible trinity" model comes into play right here: Globalization, the nation-state, and democracy cannot exist simultaneously. Only two of the three can be chosen. If globalization and the nation-state are preferred, democracy is sacrificed. If democracy and the nation-state are chosen, a more controlled globalization comes to the agenda. If globalization and democracy are preferred together, nation-states weaken. The uncertainty we are currently experiencing stems from the fact that it is not known what this difficult choice will be.

The framework drawn by America…

US President Trump's rhetoric in recent months actually declares that the end of the third wave has been reached. He is calling capital back to his country, lashing out at his allies saying "the free ride is over," and returning from the Middle East with multi-billion dollar arms deals. He calls the techno-lords of global capital to the White House and makes them announce their investments. The clear message is: "I am your boss."

But the same USA has also shown, in the face of Israel's attack on Qatar, that security guarantees are an empty promise. During the Bretton Woods era, there was at least a claim of democracy; today, even that is gone. The country that sets the rules is now ignoring its own rules.The empire of money…

As Robert Mundell said, "Great powers have great currencies." The global power of the USA also made the dollar strong. But the picture is different now. BRICS countries are developing alternative payment systems, and cryptocurrencies are on the rise. The number of cryptocurrencies, which was only 50 in 2013, has exceeded 17 thousand today. Its market value has risen from 1.5 billion dollars to 1.3 trillion dollars.

The control of central banks is weakening. Crypto transfers are hundreds of times faster and cheaper than classical methods. This picture not only shakes the dollar but also erodes the economic sovereignty of nation-states. It seems that the new monetary order will be the most critical front of the new world order.

What should Turkey do?

Turkey has unfortunately entered this historical period with economic bottlenecks, weakening institutions, and authoritarian tendencies. Yet, such interim periods create not only risks but also opportunities. Turkey must follow a two-stage strategy in this moment of uncertainty.

First step: Strengthening the internal front…

To strengthen the front internally, it is essential to increase the prestige of the Parliament and establish the rule of law and judicial independence. State institutions must be strengthened, and meritocracy must prevail again. In the economy, a program prepared with the participation of all segments can only gain legitimacy through social consensus. Therefore, the Economic and Social Council must be made functional.

Furthermore, for economic balances to be repaired, it is mandatory that the tax burden be shared fairly. This is not only a fiscal preference but also a prerequisite for social peace. The way to achieve this is through a tax reform where high-income groups contribute more to the system.

Turkey must also develop a long-term vision by establishing a new "Strategy and Planning Organization." Critical minerals, energy supply security, food security, digital sovereignty… Each of these will be decisive in the coming global storm. Again, unless the education system is restructured with a focus on science and technology, the global competitiveness of our human resources will remain limited.

The public-private partnership model created in the defense industry should also be applied to digitalization and green transformation. Many steps, from producing our own digital currency to establishing domestic cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure, must be taken without delay.

Second step: Multi-dimensional opening abroad

The second step must be taken on the external front. In foreign policy, there is a need for multi-dimensional diplomacy instead of one-sided preferences. Relations with the EU should be deepened, but an active role should also be assumed in platforms such as BRICS+, G20, and OECD. Contributing to peace in the geopolitical belt extending from the Middle East to the Caucasus, and from the Eastern Mediterranean to Central Asia, will multiply Turkey's value.

Conclusion: Being prepared…

Yes, the world is in a painful interim period. Unipolarity is dissolving, multipolarity is rising. Global capital casts a shadow over nation-states. The current order is cracking, the footsteps of a new order are being heard.

In such periods, the speed of history increases. Both great dangers and unique opportunities appear before us. What Turkey needs to do is clear. It should not be forgotten that fortune favors only the prepared. History ruthlessly wipes away those who are caught unprepared.