
A critical look at the local election process, privatization policies and secular education in Üsküdar.
AI-generated summary
Legal and political processes regarding the mayoral election and the status of council members continue in Üsküdar Municipality.
It would not be wrong to say that the ethical-moral attitude in politics is at a point where it darkens the horizon.
We are in deep trouble with the aim of reflecting the will of the nation at the ballot box: There is a serious rupture with the appointments, the people who have gone around, and the transfers. The process in Üsküdar Municipality is one of the latest examples of the shameful situation in the implementation of the results of participatory democracy.
The arrest of CHP's elected mayor Sinem Dedetaş along with controversial judicial processes, the objection of the government that did not win the deputy mayoral election, the detention of municipal council members from the opposition while the countdown was on for the renewal of the elections, and the transfer of some CHP members to the AKP... When looked at step by step, these are developments that make you wonder where there is respect for the will of the voters. The ruling front is advancing at full speed in its effort to break the influence of the opposition by dividing the CHP through nonsense. While the one who took the horse is about to pass Üsküdar, there is an effort for unity between the CHP and the YENİ Party, but unfortunately it is obvious that there is a very delayed compromise.
The answer to the question of whether the issue should be handled only with the ownership of CHP and NEW Party must be important in terms of your approach to democracy, your respect for the vote of the voters and even showing your political responsibility. It is also questioning how the policy of the government to take over the places where it was defeated at the ballot box, with attitudes that upset the separation of powers, is compatible with respect for the will of the nation...
There is an election in Üsküdar tomorrow. Let's say there is hope, and you will see that the impossible happens; While respecting the elected officials and the will of the ballot box, a stance of unity between the ruling party and the opposition is displayed above all parties.
LOVE OF CUSTOMIZATION!
The solution of the government that cannot extinguish the economic crisis is the same over and over again; privatization craze. This time, the button was pressed for a huge sale, including bridges, highways and valuable lands of DSI. With the decline in industrial production, wrong policies that have caused agriculture and livestock farming to plummet, and the import-based system becoming more dominant, the government is making the problem bigger and bigger. Labor organizations and economists issue a red card to the sale of critical infrastructure services and warn that the heavy bill will once again fall on the citizens. At this point, NEW Party leader Özel's statement to those who will enter the tender, "Do not buy it, we will expropriate it when we come to power" is important.
NO TO DARK MENTALITY
While the Ministry of Education continues its practices of opening schools to sects, last week the statement of the head of the Association of Ahlus Sunnah Scholars as an example of mental lapse came to the fore. What is it, getting married and getting married are different actions, there is no age limit for the marriage contract! It's not just that, another is against mixed education, another is in favor of madrasahs!
Then, they forgot what was written in the constitution, universal children's rights. Our duty is to remind them as always; The Republic of Türkiye is a democratic, secular and social state of law. In 1924, the Tevhid-i Tedrisat (Union of Education) law, which abolished the madrasah system, was adopted, and in 1926, the Civil Code, which paved the way for Turkish women to have equal rights with men, was adopted. Taliban-like dark mentality has no place in Ataturk's Republic.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Deputy mayor elections will be held in Üsküdar.
Very likely · Within days

The AKP government's decisions to privatize bridges and highways brought the privatization debates back to the agenda; The author criticizes that the privatizing economic approach is in the interest of the people and the nation, that the AKP has implemented 89% of the total privatization since 1986, and that this model is contrary to the principles of Kemalist populism-statism.

Former Minister of Internal Affairs İdris Naim Şahin came to the fore with the allegation that he was caught with the private vehicle used by the leaders of the Süleymanist organization while escaping from the police. Şahin was a close friend of Erdoğan in the 2011-2013 period and was criticized for his alleged relations with FETO. The opposition has remained silent on the scandal as its effort to field a joint candidate in 2019 failed.

In the new MTP, next year's appropriation proposal ceilings of public administrations were announced. While the presidential budget was 21.2 billion lira, 27.5 billion lira was predicted for next year. It was stated that there was a large increase in the ministries of Justice and National Defense. The appropriation of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security was estimated at 2.3 trillion lira. The appropriation of the Presidency of Religious Affairs was determined as 229.1 billion lira and exceeded the budget of 6 ministries. Total public administrations' appropriation proposal ceilings were calculated as 24.8 trillion lira.

Türkiye's attempt to sell a heavy ammunition package containing ballistic missiles to Ukraine was delayed because it required US Congressional approval. While sources said that the sales process would be extended and the procedures would be followed, the transfer date specified in the Congress report was completed on August 18. This situation indicates that Ankara is putting on the brakes to establish balance with Moscow.

Retired Rear Admiral Türker Ertürk was arrested 3.5 years later on the charge of "threatening to create fear and panic among the public" for his words on Tele1 on March 20, 2023, "But this government will change, painfully or painlessly" and will appear before the judge tomorrow. The media made headlines on the same day as the words 'threat'.

Prof. Dr. Hasan Sınar stated that the struggles between the cliques within the AK Party emerged through judicial operations in preparation for the post-Erdoğan period, that the absolute nullity file is a political process and that the decisions of the Supreme Court will be determined by the political agenda. Regarding the investigations of names such as Melih Gökçek and İdris Naim Şahin, he warned of the risk of illegal practices gaining legitimacy and emphasized that CHP's comments regarding the cancellation of the Üsküdar mayoral election are the losers who are stubborn with the will of the nation.