Toronto Star ePaper

Will there be political fallout?

Turkey’s declaration of a state of emergency met with support, concerns about potential abuse

I R E M KOCA

Turkey has declared a three-month state of emergency in 10 provinces affected by two devastating earthquakes.

Tuesday’s declaration was met with mixed reviews — support from some quarters, but also concerns about the motives behind the move and its potential for abuse.

“Our citizens affected by the disaster can be sure that; the state is working with all its power,” said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The state of emergency allows the government to use public resources to aid in disaster relief by having essential items, such as food and medical supplies, pooled to the affected region from other areas of the country by emergency decree. Citizens between the ages of 18 and 60 living in regions where a state of emergency has been declared are also obliged to take on duties assigned by the authorities.

The state of emergency further allows for the restriction of movement to and from emergency zones. The government can also dictate when individuals can gather and can prohibit newspapers and magazines from being printed and distributed.

Some observers say the response to the unprecedented crisis could heavily influence the future of Erdogan’s rule and his perception among his people.

“The state’s intervention in the earthquake will affect the results of the upcoming elections. That’s why the government is trying to give the message that the crisis is under control,” said Emre Caliskan, a research fellow at the Foreign Policy Centre.

“The announcement was political, claiming that the government is doing everything. Whether he will use his emergency power in line with the constitution or not is just a speculation now.”

“I’m afraid they have declared a state of emergency and the first thing they will do will be to limit freedom of expression for posts and tweets,” tweeted Sule Ozsoy Boyunsuz, a professor of constitutional law at Galatasaray University in Istanbul.

The Turkish Constitution gives the president the authority to declare a state of emergency at times of crisis like wars, violent acts that threaten the constitutional order, epidemics, severe economic depressions and natural disasters.

It is subject to approval by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, which will convene on Wednesday. If the assembly deems necessary, it can shorten or extend the time period or lift the state of emergency.

Experts and opposition figures who cited the lack of help in some provinces hit by the earthquake, such as Hatay and Adiyaman, have called for a state of emergency and the mobilization of the army, which Turkey has historically relied on for disaster management.

“Everyone is asking, ‘Where are the hundreds of thousands of soldiers? It’s the day when the soldiers come here, it’s the day to establish field hospitals. The state needs to mobilize,” said Ozgur Ozel, opposition party CHP’s group deputy chair, speaking on Halk TV, a Turkish news channel.

“There are not enough rescuers … a state of emergency should be declared immediately and the army should be ensured to assist,” tweeted Prof. Ovgun Ahmet Ercan, a well-known Turkish geophysicist with disaster management expertise.

There is, however, public concern over how a state of emergency might affect democratic freedoms and how Erdogan might wield the power it gives him.

After a 2016 coup attempt, the Turkish government, led by Erdogan, declared a three-month long state of emergency, which was extended seven times.

A constitutional referendum held in 2017 gave Erdogan wider executive powers, such as appointing the head of the central bank, while reducing parliament’s influence. Turkey also held the 2018 presidential elections under a state of emergency, which Erdogan lifted a month after his victory. The opposition denounced the elections as oppressive and antidemocratic at the time.

The usual date for the Turkish elections is June 18. Erdogan announced two weeks ago he would use his authority to hold elections on May 14, and that he would announce his final decision on March 10.

“There is a growing concern in the opposition that Erdogan will use his power for its own interests,” Caliskan told the Star.

“Many opposition figures called for an emergency rule. In the presidential system, I don’t believe that there is a difference in having an emergency rule or not. The president has power over the state institutions and influence over nonstate institutions including business groups.”

Even if the earthquake and the state of emergency does not affect the date of the elections, it may have an impact on its outcome.

“No one has in the last 20 years built an image of an autocrat, but an efficient one, a kind of a patriarchal figure that ought to be respected. He’s (Erdogan) a good administrator, he’s efficient, he’s effective, he gets things done. And that may not be the outcome of how citizens perceive it. The fact that the relief has been coming in late I think might eventually destroy the image of Erdogan,” said Soner Cagaptay, director of the Turkish research program at the Washington Institute.

NEWS

en-ca

2023-02-08T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-02-08T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://torontostar.pressreader.com/article/281552295016959

Toronto Star Newspapers Limited