The collapse of the AKP party in Turkey after 20 years in power can be attributed to the accusations of not acting for the Palestinian population. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been vocal in condemning the Israeli government for its offensive against Palestinian civilians in Gaza Strip. Erdogan has compared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin, accused the Israeli government of crimes against humanity, and supported a genocide lawsuit brought by South Africa to the International Court of Justice.
Despite providing aid to Gaza, welcoming the sick and wounded, offering to act as a guarantor for a Palestinian state, and recalling the ambassador to Tel Aviv, many Turks feel that Erdogan has not done enough for Palestinians. This criticism has led to consequences for the AKP in recent local elections, where they lost significant ground to opposition parties and movements.
The loss of support can be seen in strongholds like Erzurum and Sakarya, where the party recorded declines in support during an electoral rally in Sakarya, a banner calling for an end to trade with Israel was displayed. The rise of conservative Islamic party Yeniden Refah also indicates a shift in public sentiment. Economic problems such as inflation and loss of purchasing power have also contributed to Erdogan’s decline in popularity among conservative voters.
Moving forward, Erdogan will need to reassess Turkish policy towards Gaza and address accusations of ties with Israel while regaining his conservative base’s support. The recent elections have highlighted the importance of responding effectively to public concerns and grievances if he wants to maintain political power.
In conclusion, The AKP’s loss of support is mainly due to their failure to take a strong stance against Israeli actions against Palestinians. They have lost ground among conservative voters due to economic problems such as inflation and loss of purchasing power. To prevent further loss of consensus, Erdogan needs reassess Turkish policy towards Gaza while addressing accusations of ties with Israel and regaining his conservative base’s support through effective responses to public concerns and grievances.
