Some of the images and discussions that have recently become public have once again caused us to question the ethical and moral grounds of politics. However, the issue is far beyond a discussion based on single incidents. What we really need to talk about is the political culture that makes these events possible.
Politics is not only about governing. Politics is also about representation. It is about representing society, values and common life. The responsibility of those who are voted into office by the people is not limited to the powers of the office; it has a deeper meaning such as protecting the reputation of the office, giving confidence to the society and setting an example. For this reason, every step a politician takes, every word they say and every behavior they exhibit finds a response in the public conscience.
One of the biggest problems we face today is the evisceration of the concept of ethics. Morality has ceased to be a universal value and has been transformed into a tool that can be bent and twisted according to political positions. An understanding that does not see the wrongdoing of its own side and magnifies the smallest mistake of its opponent corrodes not only politics but also the sense of social justice.
However, ethics does not change according to the parties. Right is right no matter who does it; wrong is wrong no matter who does it. If this principle is lost in a society, all that remains is a power struggle. And where there is a power struggle, there is neither justice nor trust.
Of course a politician has a private life. It is unacceptable to create a lynch culture over anyone's private life. However, there is a fine line here: If private life is carried to a point where it undermines public responsibility, it is no longer just an individual matter. Because politics entails visibility and accountability. Society expects not only service from those who govern it, but also consistency and trust.
The biggest loss of the political institution today is this sense of trust. People no longer only look at the services provided, but also who the service provider is, what kind of a life they lead and what they represent. Because the issue of representation is not a technical issue, but a moral one.
What needs to be done at this point is not to get bogged down in personal debates, but to initiate a larger confrontation. Politics must be put back on an ethical footing. This ground should be based on transparency, accountability, honesty and, most importantly, consistency. As long as a politician fails to find a harmony between what he says from the rostrum and what he does in his life, he loses credibility in the eyes of the public.
However, this moral erosion is not limited to individual behavior; there are also serious problems in the functioning of the political system. Today, in many political parties, candidate selection processes are carried out in a manner far removed from democratic participation mechanisms. While methods such as primary elections, in which the grassroots can have a say, are sidelined, candidates are often selected by the narrow cadres of the party's top leadership and put directly before the voters. Even more serious is the widespread belief that instead of merit, networks of affinity, described as “uncle-uncle relations”, are effective. This weakens the representative character of politics, relegates the will of the people to the background and deepens the crisis of trust.
It must be remembered that politics is not only about the art of winning. Politics is also about how you win and what you stand for after winning. If moral values are lost in this process, the achievements will have no meaning.
What we need today is a new political language and a new understanding of morality. An approach that does not feed on polarization, does not marginalize, does not cover up mistakes, but at the same time protects human dignity... Because the future of this country will be built not only with economic or political programs, but also with a moral stance.
As a final word, it is necessary to state the following: Politics is not an office but a trust. The biggest responsibility of those who carry that trust is to display a stance worthy of the weight of that office. Otherwise, it is not only the individual reputation that is lost, but also the common values of the society.