The opposition beat Erdogan. Preparing “the largest collection of signatures in the world”
A week ago, on the eve of the Islamic EID Al-Fitr festival, the ending Ramadan, several hundred thousand Turks-although according to the organizers there could have been even 2.2 million-they gathered in the Anatolian part of Istanbul to once again protest against the arrest of the mayor of this city of the Imamogle. Instead of broadcasting a great protest that broke out in the Maltepe district, the national information channel Haberturk broadcast … recipes.
Other television channels, which always transmit in full every press conference of President Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, also did not devote too much attention to the antenna of a huge demonstration – and some completely ignored it. The Turkish opposition responded sharply – a call to a boycott.
– If they do not want to see us, we will not see them either – shouted Ozgur Ozel, leader of the opposition republican People's Party (CHP) to the protesting crowd. These words may have greater consequences than it seems, as shown by the panic reaction of the Turkish government.
In addition to taxes financed from taxes, all broadcasters in question are the property of large conglomerates, which also operate in other sectors. This means that the call of the opposition to a boycott also applies to other brands of these companies – among them were, among others Volkswagen and Audi.
Demonstration of strength
Compared to the huge protests that occurred immediately after the arrest of the imamogle, the call to boycott seem rather defensive. The demonstrations had two very specific goals – lead to the release of the arrested screen of imamogle and prevent the forced state management of the Istanbul city administration and the CHP party. The latter was achieved.
The opposition, however, cannot, as if anything, will never return to normal activities. But without specific demands – and without a realistic perspective of Erdogan's resignation – he cannot continue protests at the same level – without the risk of fatigue of society and further arrests. At the same time, he tries to involve older citizens who have so far shuned with protests for fear of treating them with tear gas, arrests or unpleasant professional consequences.
Ozgur Ozel, leader of the Opposition Republican People's Party, appealing to the participants of the protests in Turkey, March 29, 2025.
So he does it in different ways. For example, after the arrest of the imamogle, she held internal elections to select her candidate, who would start in the presidential election. Voting was open to all citizens, as a result of which was attended by 13.2 million people who were not members of the party – compared to 1.6 million people with party legitimacy. CHP also called the Turks for one -day shopping boycott – On Wednesday. It was quite a clever procedure – you can accelerate demonstrators by force, but you can't force someone to the supermarket.
Currently CHP plays the role of mainly the organizer of protests. Although he tries to unite various opposition environments, the greatest impetus is given to demonstrations by students – they were the first to go out into the streets after the arrest of imamogle and were the first to formulate demands of boycott. For this generation, the mayor of Istanbul is only a symbolic figure. They do not fight for him or his party CHP – and their own future.
The one -day boycott of shopping was primarily a demonstration of strength. The boycott of some companies is to have, in the assumption of the organizers, a similar character – and reduce support for Erdogan. – Tomorrow will be queuing up to make an appointment with an imamogle screen. We will assess you based on how you will set up today – said the leader of the CHP OZEL party, sending a meaningful suggestion to companies. It was probably well understood – also by Volkswagen.
– We hope that in the current tense political situation, the justified interests of the entire population will be taken into account – said the company spokesman in an interview with “Welt am Sonntag”. He added that for Volkswagen, the independence of the judiciary is “an important basis for the security of economic planning and entrepreneurship's success”, which is why “the Turkish constitutional state is particularly responsible for the current situation.” It was diplomatically restrained, but a clear statement.
“Attempt at the coup state”
Such statements are probably one of the reasons why Erdogan's government reacts to the announced Bojkoty more spontaneously than to mass demonstrations. There is probably no minister in the Turkish government who would not show up with boycotted products. Moreover, the prosecutor's office initiated an investigation into the incitement of hatred, and the interior minister Ali Yerlikay even mentioned the “attempt to assassination of the state.”
“They still believe that they can win the election,” wrote CEM Kucuk, one of the largest regime activists in the “Turkiye” daily. He added that the opposition did not understand the system, which was established after the attempt at the coup in 2016, “after him, 70 percent of security forces were appointed” – he wrote, smuggling in these words a hidden threat – that the regime is less and less about supporting the population, and more and more on the state apparatus.
Meanwhile, CHP is already preparing another campaign. Wants to start “the largest collection of signatures in the world”, to force Erdogan to conduct early elections. Erdogan is also interested in them – because according to the current constitution, he could only run again in such a situation. Such early elections Parliament would have to be approved by a 60 % majority. votes. However, it is unlikely that Erdogan agrees to it as long as The impetus – as it is currently taking place – lies with the opposition.
The last great battle
It is clear that he has been thinking about the arrest of imamogle for a long time. In January, in connection with the protests in Gezi in 2013, Ayse Barim, a manager of many famous actors, was arrested. She was accused of “an attempt to overthrow the constitutional order.” On the same day, as an imamogle, a well -known investigative journalist Ismail Samaz was arrested – also in connection with the protests in Gezi. Although he managed to avoid house arrest, he has not been heard about him since then. No wonder – the accusation of an attempt to assassination may result in a professional life sentence.
Participants of protests in Turkey during a boycott organized by the opposition in Ankara, April 2, 2025.
Years after demonstrations in the Gzi Park, a prison sentence was sentenced to a long prison sentence and other public figures. Many of them, despite the judgments of the Turkish Constitutional Tribunal and the European Court of Human Rights, are still in prison. Shortly before the imamogle, Orhan Turan and Omer Aras from the Turkish Industry and Business Association (Tusiad) were detained on charges of disinformation. They avoided temporary custody, but to the decoration – the chairman of the emerging nationalist party – it failed.
These attempts to intimidate journalists, artists, entrepreneurs and politicians – and through them the entire society – were not enough to stop the protests. Erdogan will probably draw conclusions from this and deal another big blow, which is already threatened. The conflict between the government and the opposition will probably continue, although at a relatively low level of intensity. However, there is no turning back – Türkiye will change in one way or another.
This is probably the last big political battle for 71-year-old Erdogan. If he wins her, nothing will stop him, even the constitution, before staying in the position for the rest of his life and transforming the country into a dictatorship once and for all. The question is whether he will succeed.
