It is very clear that the results of the April 16 referendum do not consist of a clear decision made on a matter put to referendum alone. Rather, it also gives – should give – important messages to all. Even though the outcome of this referendum, should actually, as a requirement of the rule, have ended all debates, looking at those who are trying to continue the debates, it is clear that there is stubbornness on the point of refusing to take these lessons.
After witnessing this relationship, is there any need to mention that the claims stated in the report are baseless and untrue? Unfortunately, the statements made by these dirty mouths have been spread. Hence, let us continue in the name of cleaning the ears that heard them. For example, it is stated that the referendum campaign did not take place under equal terms. What are they referring to when they say equal terms? All parties that pass the 10 percent election threshold in Turkey get a share from the state treasury. All television channels are open to all political movements. The internet and social media is open to use by all. If what they mean by inequality is that the “yes” campaign is carried out by a charismatic leader against the “no” campaign being carried out by an uncharismatic leader, who has not been able to connect with the Turkish people, who is foreign to them, then what kind of measure is the OSCE suggesting to make such a term equal?
It is clear that the source of disturbance is President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's supporting the “yes” campaign and the performance and leadership demonstrated by Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım during this process. So, for the referendum campaign to be equal for the OSCE, the president should not have spoken and the prime minister should not have shown such a performance. What does the OSCE's claim, “The election did not take place under equal terms” mean? The inequality between Erdoğan and CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu is a fact, but we have to admit that this this exists and that there is no way to make up for it. However, we should remember that neither Kılıçdaroğlu, nor any of the other opposition leaders have ever been on such equal terms in any of the elections that they participated in against Erdoğan. That is why Kılıçdaroğlu already seems sure that Erdoğan is going to win the elections that are going to take place in 2019 and 2024. Because, his inability to consider himself equal has nothing to do with the terms of the election, but with his own view of himself.
