Two interviews on the elections. The BBC interview (uploaded here in three parts) covers the basics of the Turkish regime’s growth path, the faux anti-imperialism of the regime and 1/6

... the mainstream opposition’s empty agenda of restoring a Western-friendly, free-market capitalism that has already run its course in the region. 2/6

Since the only people who could politicize the real issues are in prison, Erdoğan ran against a weak opposition that essentially promised an already failed path (i.e. the AKP’s path of the 2000s). 3/6

The KPFA interview covers the other dynamics: the rise of the far right; the centrality of cheap labor to Erdoğan’s power and appeal; why the regime gets support also from laborers, despite its low wage-based growth strategy; and 4/6

... the threat to women’s rights, LGBTQ, and the Kurds. I also pointed out the silver lining in all of this: There will be more momentum for mobilization and organization from the ground up as a reaction to these threats. 5/6

Finally, implications for the US: We can only partially count on positive signals and impetus from Biden. We (labor and social movements) have to shake up things ourselves. (Coverage of Turkey runs from 9:18 to 14:24) 6/6

Bravo!

Syrians who recently obtained Turkish nationality were allowed to vote. Most of them do not speak Turkish and some of them do not even reside in the country. Not to mention repeat voting, unaccountable voters, pressure, threats, unfair campaign, money distribution etc.