Recently, the 6-month membership changes of political parties were announced. There were surprising results. Despite the CHP's constant rallies and active opposition according to many people, it was seen that the number of members increased by only 19 thousand 325. Again, it did not go unnoticed that the Felicity Party was the second party that increased the number of its members the most with an increase of 67 thousand 244 members.
However, according to many, the most striking result was that the AKP increased its membership by 664,578 people in 6 months in the midst of so much economic hardship.
Some people attributed this to allegations, sometimes reflected on social media, that people were made members of the AKP without their knowledge. I say allegations, but there have indeed been cases in this direction.
However, such an increase cannot be attributed solely to intentional or unintentional errors.
So why is it that the AKP continues to increase its membership despite all these economic problems?
The reason is simple: AKP has taken the poor hostage. Since the word “hostage” implies a state of coercion, some may object, "What, people are being forced to join the AKP? Of course no one has a gun to their head. However, if there is a perception among a significant part of the population that the condition for finding a job or receiving state aid is to be a member of the AKP, this is also a form of hostage-taking.
In Turkey, where allegations of meritocracy and torpil have never really ended, there are widespread allegations that those with references from AKP organizations are given priority in hiring or providing aid. There is no data to prove otherwise. Therefore, even if the poor know that their situation is due to the failure of the AKP government, they still believe that the AKP is the solution to their problems, and they turn to the party for membership.
No one should say here that “People still see AKP as the address for a solution”? The AKP is preferred not because it is the address for a solution, but because it first shows the way to membership with its suggestions to solve a problem. It is an indisputable fact that the AKP has been successful in establishing a hegemony of power over the poor. Yes, as strange as it is that despite all the rallies the CHP's membership numbers have not increased as much as expected, this hormonal growth in the AKP's membership numbers should be on the political agenda and should be discussed.
A change of power in Turkey will be difficult without freeing the poor from the hostage of the AKP.