Fiction photography doesn't last long: They went cheap on setting up the set

The photograph, which emerged after a meeting at the Parliament 's opening reception, apparently orchestrated by Numan Kurtulmuş, served as a lifeline for Erdoğan's declining political career, at least for a short time. It's worth noting this as a short-term image, as it's virtually impossible for this photo to produce any long-term political results. We'll discuss this section in the second article, so let's continue with the photograph.

A year ago, Devlet Bahçeli was the star of the parliamentary opening and reception. This time, Erdoğan took the stage. Erdoğan, who had previously avoided parliamentary opening receptions, took his place this time. Parliamentary reporters' accounts of that evening suggest it was a third-rate spectacle, scripted in the Palace and directed by Kurtulmuş. Every frame, from Erdoğan's chair to the politicians' lineup, was calculated in advance. The government, caught in a legitimacy impasse, attempted to respond with a photograph. It's impossible to answer today whether it achieved the desired outcome.

TO WHOM DID HE GIVE THE MESSAGE?

Erdoğan and Bahçeli were very pleased with the image of Parliament. They said it should be seen as a snapshot of Turkey. Erdoğan's stance in the photo, his body language, and his dialogue with party leaders seemed to be saying, "Appreciate being here." The Democratic Party (DEM), in particular, was under full-court pressure.

After the photo was presented in Parliament, not only the ruling party but also the opposition parties featured in the photo issued a statement. Or rather, they were forced to do so. DEM officials were forced to emphasize emphatically that it would be unwise to extrapolate any grand meaning from a single image.

We must say that the driving force behind this statement is primarily Kurdish voters. According to research released by BUPAR last weekend, 70 percent of Kurdish voters say they won't vote for Erdoğan "even if Öcalan is in power." Only 11 percent support Erdoğan under these circumstances. DEM leaders have no chance of ignoring this situation. Therefore, they are forced to renew their calls for immediate action. Currently, DEM leaders have found no positive developments that will convince their voters.

The attack on the CHP will continue

In fact, a similar situation applies to other opposition parties. A significant portion of the voters of the İYİ (Good) , DEVA, and Gelecek (Future) Party share a similar stance against Erdoğan.

Bahçeli's messages from the parliamentary podium and Erdoğan's messages from Azerbaijani soil demonstrated that the "home front" plan, devoid of the CHP, will continue. However, it must be said that this path is fraught with obstacles that will not be easily overcome. No party within the opposition has the opportunity to set aside its voters and act. Irreconcilable contradictions persist between the voters of these parties and the government.

This picture will soon be rapidly shattered by issues like Syria, the economy, and the judiciary. What will accelerate this process is for the opposition forces outside the frame to demonstrate their ability to consistently act in concert with the people's demands. Politics, which has become a spectacle, needs to be brought back into the fold. A poorly written script and a project where the producer has cut corners are attempting to engineer a political landscape. Furthermore, everyone in the film, from the lead actors to the extras, has a credibility problem with the audience.

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THE ISSUE OF THE HUSBAND MOUSTACHE

Former AKP MP Hüseyin Kocabıyık was first detained and then arrested on charges of "insulting the president." The arrest followed a statement Kocabıyık gave to Cumhuriyet newspaper. It's clear that talking about normalization in a country where someone who served the AKP for years is arrested after a minor criticism is unconvincing.

This incident also reveals another truth: The AKP is extremely afraid of genuine criticism—especially criticism from within. Kocabıyık's arrest serves as a warning to any AKP member who might be prepared to come forward with criticism.