The still-imprisoned Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP) Hatay deputy Can Atalay, prompted an extraordinary session in the Turkish Parliament (TBMM) following a ruling by the Constitutional Court. The court decided that Atalay should be released from prison and allowed to resume his duties as a member of Parliament.
The TBMM convened to reverse its previous decision to strip Atalay of his parliamentary status. During the session, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy Alpay Özalan attacked TİP deputy Ahmet Şık while he was speaking at the podium. Opposition deputies, including Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party member Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit and Republican People’s Party (CHP) member Okan Konuralp, were also assaulted and injured by AKP deputies as they tried to intervene.
Attacks Reaching the Streets
These attacks were manifestations of Islamist fascism in Parliament. Just a few days earlier, members of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) had attempted to disrupt a concert by artist Suavi in Istanbul. Additionally, a woman who participated in a street interview and only criticized the government, without insulting it, was quickly detained and arrested.
All these developments indicated that the AKP-MHP government was extending its fascist repression from the streets to Parliament, resorting to violence as it increasingly lost its power and legitimacy.
The AKP government, unable to address societal issues and having fallen to the second-largest party in the recent local elections, demonstrated that it had no option other than oppression, violence, and tyranny.
Lessons from Italian Fascism
Fascist Italian leader Mussolini also resorted to violence to seize power. In July 1923, Mussolini, with the support of liberals, passed a new election law allowing the party with the majority of votes to secure two-thirds of the seats in Parliament.
Although the Fascist Party held only 35 seats in the previous elections, the new law would grant it a majority if it won 286 seats. Mussolini enabled fascist gangs to attack leftist municipalities, unions, cooperatives, and printing houses, not just within Parliament but also on the streets.
However, the Fascist Party did not achieve a complete victory in the April 1924 elections; 37% of voters abstained, and opposition parties received 35% of the vote. Despite this, Mussolini acted as if he had won a landslide victory.
The Murder of the Socialist Deputy
Socialist deputy Matteotti accused Mussolini of election fraud and demanded the annulment of the results during a speech in Parliament. On June 10, 1924, Matteotti was kidnapped and killed by fascists in the heart of Rome.
This assassination sparked a wave of outrage across Italy. Despite this, the Italian Socialist Party, which leaned towards social democracy, still spoke of adhering to the law and boycotting Parliament.
Mussolini mocked the social democrats, saying, "Where are their general strikes, their local strikes, their efforts to incite rebellion within the army? None of them; they are only satisfied with press campaigns."
Eventually, in 1925-1926, all parties except the Fascist Party were banned, and the opposition press was suppressed. The Communist Party, unable to form a leftist alliance, became ineffective and was likewise banned.
Fighting Fascism in the UK
Returning to the present day, a group of fascist gangs and looters in the UK recently organized actions and attacks against immigrants. In response, antifascist organizations mobilized on August 7, 2024, with 40,000 people in 14 cities under the slogan "We will eradicate fascism from the streets." The fascist gangs disappeared.
Faced with the organized power of the people, politics and the media also changed their stance and began to support the antifascist demonstrations. In the following days, 15,000 people in Belfast and around 60,000 across the UK took to the streets against racism and fascism.
This antifascist demonstration saw significant involvement from the working class and unions. The unity of the working class and leftist organizations played a crucial role in pushing back fascism.
The Leftist Alliance in France
In France, during the European Parliament elections on June 10, 2024, the far-right National Rally Party, led by Marine Le Pen, emerged as the leading party. President Macron decided to call for early elections.
Under the name New Popular Union (NUPES), France's major left-wing parties, including the Socialist Party (PS), La France Insoumise (LFI), the French Communist Party (PCF), and the Green Party (EELV), formed an alliance.
In the first round of general elections on June 30, the far-right National Rally Party alliance received about 33% of the vote, the left-wing alliance New Popular Union 28%, and the Together for the Republic Alliance, which supports Macron, received 20%.
A Labor-Focused Election Campaign
The New Popular Union (NUPES) focused its election campaign on economic promises. The leftist alliance pledged to raise the minimum wage to 1,600 euros, adjust pensions according to inflation, freeze food, energy, and fuel prices, and increase rent assistance by 10%.
The alliance also vowed to repeal Macron’s law raising the retirement age to 64 and lowering it to 60. Alliance officials stated that they would reorganize tax brackets for workers and impose higher taxes on capital.
As a result, in the second round of elections in July 2024, the leftist alliance emerged as the leading party, while Le Pen's far-right party fell to third place.
What should be done in Turkey?
Given these global examples, it is crucial for the left in Turkey to establish a lasting alliance. Socialist and communist parties, in particular, must form a strong unity against the Islamist fascist trend based on certain fundamental principles.
It is essential for this socialist unity to also ally with parties like CHP and DEM Party, which will take a stance against Islamist fascism and support democracy. Undoubtedly, labor unions, and professional organizations such as The Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB), the Turkish Medical Association (TTB), and the Bar Association should also be part of this alliance.
Moreover, exercising the constitutional right to democratic resistance, organizing peaceful rallies and demonstrations, and turning them into displays of strength against fascist aggression, as seen in the UK, are crucial actions. Local antifascist organizations are also important.
Resisting fascism should be the duty of all democrats, progressives, socialists, communists, and citizens who stand for human rights and freedoms and wish to live in dignity and freedom. There is no time to lose...