“So it looks like Twitter and Youtube won’t be coming back anytime soon.”
This was the message on remaining social media outlets depressing so many young Turks this morning as it became clear that Sunday’s local elections had cemented Erdogan’s ruling AK Party in power.
Over the last three months there have been a cascade of corruption scandal leaks published by an anonymous tweeter which have polarised and already fractured Turkey. Following the Gezi Park protests that left 11 dead and thousands injured a vote for Erdogan’s AKP was seen by many commentators as a vote for political acquittal for the corruption scandals and police violence. Even though Erdogan’s name did not appear on the ballot papers, this was his political battle.
Sunday’s sunny weather did not reflect the election which was a mire of allegations, violence and confusion.There were reports of violent fights breaking out between the supporters of rival candidates, and even a suicide in the Black Sea province Trabzone. By the end of the day 10 people had died, one of a heart-attack.
As votes started to be counted, reports of foul play were appearing on social media. There were examples of workers handing out wrong envelopes and count observers blocked from entering polling venues. Allegations were hard to collaborate as news websites, the ones affiliated with the Gulen movement, became inaccessible due to cyber attacks. Today they are back up and running. To add further confusion the power went out in several cities hampering the evening vote counts.
By evening some parties were declaring victory before the votes had been counted. Even today there is more vote counting left to be done and a seemingly endless list of grievances from various parties. However the general picture is clear, AKP are the clear winners. According to the preliminary results 92 percent of the country’s 52.7 million eligible voters took to the polls, and around 45% of them voted for AKP.
So, what is to come? According to Erdogan’s balcony speech the ‘enemies’ of Turkey should leave the country, which include academics, lawyers, twitter users, doctors who tried to treat those injured in Gezi, and anybody who sympathised with the death of a 15 year old who died as a result of police violence…the list is endless.
Democracy is changing Turkey, but many fear whether it is for the better.
