Politics in Turkey has long ceased to be a race of ideas. Now it is more a race of voices. Whoever speaks more harshly, whoever carries a heavier burden, whoever squeezes the other person more, becomes more visible.
Because the country is tired. Economic distress, debates on justice, endless tension have created an accumulated anger in people. At times like these, a politician who speaks calmly sometimes looks weak. The tough talker is strong.
Özgür Özel has been speaking exactly in the language of this hardening politics lately. He gives deadlines, names names, says “I will explain”, says “we will hold him to account”. Some of his own voters see this as “the opposition finally not backing down”. Others think that this tone brings more tension to the country.
This is not just a stylistic choice. It is a political method.
Because anger attracts attention. On the television screen, it is not calm sentences but harsh outbursts. Anger is also the fastest circulating thing on social media. Today's politics is partly based on this.
There is another fact.
Political bases that have lost for a long time or feel ineffective want a tougher leader over time. The idea that “polite talk does not work” spreads. Özgür Özel's language responds to this expectation.
But there is a line to be drawn here.
Tough opposition is one thing, constantly generating tension is another.
In democracies, the opposition, of course, holds the government to account. It talks about documents. It exposes wrongdoing. These are the natural side of politics. But if politics turns into mere threatening statements, the nerve endings of society start to deteriorate.
Because after a while, citizens hear the fight, not the project. They watch the confrontation, not the solution.
More importantly, the language of the politician infects society.
If everyone is shouting at each other above, people below start not listening to each other. Every different opinion is perceived as hostility. People forget that they are citizens of the same country and start to see each other as opposing fronts.
This is partly behind the great break Turkey is experiencing today.
Everyone is very angry. Everyone is very tense. Everyone is suspicious of each other.
But running a state is not just a matter of struggle. State requires seriousness. It requires balance. It requires composure.
Anger can bring a crowd to its feet. But it is not only anger that can sustain a country for a long time.
What sustains a country is that people can trust each other.