Dear Mr Steinbrück,
Esteemed guests,
It is a great pleasure to address this distinguished group in Berlin today. I would like to thank the Helmut Schmidt Foundation for inviting me to this remarkable event at the Museum of Communications. This museum is the oldest postal museum in Europe. It reminds us of the evolution of communication from handwritten letters and telegrams to today's rapid, digital exchanges. Communication is the foundation of every society. Its truth and reliability are essential for democracy to flourish.
Allow me to begin with the story of a telegram that captures the essence of democracy in Türkiye. Ninety-four years ago, President Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Türkiye and the Republican People’s Party (CHP), sent a telegram to his old friend Fethi Okyar. Fethi Okyar wanted to start a new political party to compete with the CHP. While heading to the turbulent 1930s, Atatürk was eager to see Türkiye move from the singleparty rule to a multi-party system. In this famous telegram, Atatürk encouraged Okyar, who had just left his post as Ambassador in Paris, to establish the Liberal Party, Serbest Fırka. Ataturk’s message was more than an invitation for political competition; It was a call to build a culture of pluralism in Türkiye. Although this early attempt at multiparty democracy was brief, the Turkish people's democratic aspirations went on. After World War II, in 1946, Türkiye held its first multiparty elections, marking a new chapter in its democratic journey. Since then, Türkiye’s democracy has faced military coups, crises, and many challenges. But it has endured.
Dear Participants,
Despite its endurance and long history and the hope brought by the recent local elections, democracy in Türkiye is once again under serious threat. Over the past two decades of the Justice and Development Party rule, democratic norms have been eroded. The government has used state resources to favor its candidates, silenced opposing voices, and weaponized the judiciary to intimidate the opposition. This month alone, four elected mayors were removed from their positions for weak and questionable reasons. They were replaced by government-appointed trustees. Last week, I visited Ahmet Türk, a veteran politician, to express my solidarity. He has been removed from his post three times. Yet, each time, the people of Mardin, a multicultural city, elected him again. Since 2016, nearly 160 elected mayors have been replaced by government-appointed trustees. This act ignores the people's will. In Istanbul, the municipality faces constant harassment through endless lawsuits. I am personally involved in a trial that could strip me of my political rights. Tomorrow the former leader of CHP Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu will face trial at the court. It is like a bad joke! Removing elected representatives from office is not just democratic backsliding; it is a betrayal of Türkiye’s democratic legacy.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let’s face it; democracy is under threat all around the world. In 2024, Freedom House reported that global freedom has declined for the 18th year in a row. Many democracies are becoming weaker, while authoritarian leaders have been growing in number and in terms of their power. Using the same playbook, the so-called strongmen are personalizing political power, eroding checks and balances, choking free speech and attacking diversity. They learn from each other and share their tool-kits, such as spyware or troll networks. Fear and discontent are weaponized to scapegoat “new citizens” or immigrants. These communities often flee poverty, war, or climate disasters. They are painted as threats to social cohesion. Populist and xenophobic parties are gaining more votes. They become coalition partners in governments. Or, worse, push mainstream parties to adopt their harmful rhetoric. But, the strongmen’s quick answers do not solve the pressing problems of our time, such as climate change, irregular migration or poverty. On the contrary, by dividing us, they make it harder to find real solutions.
Dear Guests,
Against this backdrop, the Turkish people demonstrated extraordinary resilience and very strong democratic will in the local elections this year. Against all odds, the opposition’s social democrat candidates reclaimed the three largest cities. We now govern municipalities that account for 70 percent of the population and 80 percent of the national economy. This was not just a political victory but a testament to the people’s solid commitment to democracy, justice, and transparency. They firmly rejected cronyism, corruption,
and authoritarianism.
So how did we replace the politics of fear with the politics of hope at a time when progressive voices were being pushed to the margins over the last 22 years? How did we manage to turn things around after the deeply disappointing defeat in the presidential and parliamentary elections in 2023? How did the CHP become the leading party in the local elections just ten months after the defeat? On May 29, 2023, the morning after our loss, I said, “We cannot achieve different results by doing the same things; we must change.” With local elections just around the corner, we did not shy away from facing the defeat. Instead, we listened to the people’s message and undertook major changes: in our leadership, our programme and our organization. We also built on the success of CHP-led local administrations over past five years, including Istanbul. While the government in Türkiye tightened its grip with authoritarian and polarizing policies, CHP-run municipalities offered a democratic alternative which also focused on results. In essence, we upheld two fundamental principles of leadership: Inclusion and good governance.
The “Istanbul model,” practiced over the past five years, aims to replace exclusion with recognition, intolerance with respect, and unequal resource concentration with equitable redistribution. While we are improving the lives of the people of Istanbul, we refuse a top-down approach. We created participatory mechanisms through open town halls to digital platforms. Our commitment to transparency is best understood by our initiative, called “Budget is Yours", where we involve citizens in preparing a portion of the city budget. To increase citizens’ participation in decision-making, we also developed a super app, which we call “Istanbul is Yours”. Through this app, users can have access to over 90 apps. So far 5.2 million users downloaded this super app. This is one of the best examples of democratic participation in a digital era. Years of divisive politics had fractured trust among communities. We chose a different path: By uniting rather than dividing, we built a shared vision for progress that transcended partisan lines. As a result, the CHP has gained over 3.5 million new voters and secured leadership in several additional districts and cities across Türkiye. We also became the biggest party in Türkiye after 48 years.
Citizens of Istanbul and other CHP-governed cities did not just hear promises; they saw results even in the face of obstacles from the central government. From infrastructure to social policies, we proved that governance can be both visionary and practical. Every lira was spent with clear purpose, and citizens could see exactly where their money went: into sustainable transport that prioritized disadvantaged areas, into parks and green spaces for all neighborhoods, and into affordable services, never into corruption or inefficiency. Good governance matters! When political actors act with competence and integrity, citizens regain trust, not only in their city, but in democracy itself.
Dear Colleagues,
Electoral victories are only the beginning – not the end of the battle. To address the global crisis of democracy, we need a new vision, fresh language, and innovative leadership that places people at the center of politics. I call this approach "democratic people-ism”, a positive redefinition of populism, which had a constructive role in politics in the past. “Populism” or “Halkçılık” in Turkish was one of the six founding principles of my party, CHP. We embraced this principle as a reflection of our commitment to the people’s will. Unlike today’s divisive and authoritarian populism, “Halkçılık” was rooted in social justice, equality and inclusion. It aimed to empower citizens and bridge divides. Populism’s current bad reputation needs to be turned on its head. We, the progressive democrats, need to reclaim the word and save it from being a synonym for authoritarianism and demagogy.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Authoritarianism is gaining ground across the world because more and more people feel that they have been left behind in globalization and abandoned to exclusion and extreme poverty. We, democrats, need a strong roadmap: First, we must prioritize equity. In an era where wealth and technology are concentrated in the hands of a few, progressive policies must tackle economic, social, and technological inequalities. We must also address inequalities in representation, both within nations and in international institutions. Without equity, democracies will lose the trust of their people and cede ground to authoritarian promises of stability. Second, we must strengthen solidarity. As I mentioned before, we need to embrace participatory governance. Solidarity must also extend to building coalitions across borders to tackle global challenges like climate change and migration. Lastly, we must defend democratic values with firm commitment. As democrats, we must uphold the rule of law and safeguard fundamental rights and freedoms.We must ensure that democracy is not just a system of governance but a guarantee of dignity and opportunity for everyone.But democratic values should be upheld consistently. We cannot pick and choose! We cannot condemn injustice in one case while turning a blind eye to another. We cannot advocate for human rights and global solidarity, yet close our borders to those fleeing war and conflicts, leaving other nations to bear the burden alone.
Authoritarian regimes are threatening peace and stability all around the world. Wars in Ukraine and in Gaza have killed tens of thousands and displaced millions of innocent people. Istanbul has been on the frontline, as Syrians, Ukrainians and others looked for refuge. But this challenge is too great for Istanbul, or Türkiye, to face alone. We must react to humanitarian tragedies with the same degree, and never hesitate to raise our voice for those who are targeted by aggression. In mid-December, we will convene in Istanbul the Mayors of the major cities of the Middle East and North Africa to discuss how we can address the sources of conflict and build a better future for all, based on peace and cooperation.
Dear Participants,
At this critical junction in history, when the results of the last American elections add a new factor to the global uncertainty and democratic concerns, Türkiye and the European Union need to enhance their cooperation. Türkiye’s proximity to Europe is not just geographic—it is strategic. Our cooperation is essential for regional security and economic stability, but we need to do more. We, pro-democracy forces, need to work together, knowing that we all have a stake in strengthening democracy globally. Closer ties with the EU can certainly strengthen Türkiye’s democratic institutions, but it is not a one-way street. The resilience of democracy within the EU is inherently linked to that of Türkiye. Addressing the existential threats to Europe as a continent requires a visionary outlook that includes Türkiye. As CHP, we have consistently viewed Türkiye as an integral part of Europe, positioning ourselves as stakeholders in European affairs and solutions. We don’t want Türkiye to remain as the eternal candidate at the doorstep of the EU. Our goal is to be a member that plays a key role in strengthening Europe’s resilience against emerging challenges.
Germany, in particular, has been a vital partner for Türkiye. Germany is Türkiye’s largest trading partner, and our collaboration spans industries from automotive to renewable energy. But the most enduring bond is Germany's three and a half million Turks. From talents in the field of culture and arts to innovators in business and science, Turkish-German citizens are an essential part of Germany. The German citizens of Turkish origin are an important factor in German democracy as well. They are now also key political players at the federal level and in Lander. The German-Turkish partnership is vital for the future of democracy, the future of Europe, and the future of European security. Unfortunately, the potential for collaboration remains unrealized. From Ukraine crisis to managing irregular migration, we need a strong Turkish-German partnership.
Dear Friends,
While concluding, I want to express my pride in being here to honor the legacy of former Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, a determined and pragmatic social democrat leader who held on to three fundamental values: Justice, freedom, and solidarity. These principles remain an inspiration as we navigate today’s challenges. The challenges are immense, but so are the opportunities. Nowhere is this more evident than here in Berlin. 35 years ago the fall of the Berlin Wall redrew Europe’s map and reshaped history. It reminded us that transformative change often emerges from times of uncertainty. Today we have a chance to reimagine democracy, not as a static system but as a dynamic force capable of addressing the complexities of both today and tomorrow. By embracing equality, freedom, solidarity, and rule of law as our shared universal values, we can ensure that in the 21st century democracy remains the most powerful force for justice and progress, as well as “peace at home, peace in the world”.
Thank you.
