On 19 March, Turkey entered a new phase following the detention of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu and 11 others. The protests that erupted across the country in response to the detentions have triggered new debates within the sphere of social opposition. Particularly in recent years, the public’s reaction to the government’s efforts to establish a regime of repression, though fragmented, has reignited discussions among socialist and leftist movements about the need for a unified front of struggle.

Labour Party (EMEP) chair, Seyit Aslan, shared his assessment with ANF regarding the public reaction that emerged after the Sarachane protests and the ongoing debate over a common struggle.

Common struggle means unity of the working class, laborers, and the people

Seyit Aslan stated that the reaction that emerged in Sarachane went beyond the potential of the Republican People’s Party and recalled that the stance of university students played a key role in sparking the growth of the resistance. He emphasized that the debate around a common struggle has existed for quite some time and added: “This powerful, mass protest movement, sparked by the militant stance of university youth, spread across the entire country despite all the threats issued by the government. The mass character of the Zeren Ertaş protests and the teachers’ actions, the atmosphere created by localized protests, the actions of farmers who poured their crops onto the roads with their tractors, the local actions of the student movement, the defiance of metal workers against the strike ban, as well as workers’ protests and resistance in various cities and sectors, and the anti-trustee demonstrations in the region and in the west, these are all signs of a mass movement boiling underneath the surface.

Throughout this entire process, everyone spoke of a common struggle, but there was no meaningful step taken to make it real. Of course, there are reasons for this. It has to do with how we understand unity and common struggle. What should be meant by common struggle is the unity of the working class, laborers, and the people. The coming together of leftist and socialist parties can only be meaningful to the extent that it serves this goal.

The mass movement that emerged after 19 March instilled a significant amount of fear in the government and pointed to the path that must be taken. For those who do not trust the people, who think ‘nothing can come from workers and laborers; these people will be fooled again with a bag of pasta,’ this movement was the answer. However, we must also say that the movement remained confined within the boundaries of the current political system. As long as the left and socialist forces cannot reach the level that can lead future mass movements forward and ensure they conclude with concrete victories, this limitation will remain.

From the perspective of a common struggle, we must take into account the characteristics of today’s experience. Around urgent demands, a people’s front can be organized. A process could begin in which all political parties, professional associations, trade unions, and similar groups come together to form local units of unity. This could be the first step of such a people’s front. In other words, organizations and parties must act from a position that prioritizes the interests of workers, laborers, and the people, rather than protecting their own narrow group interests.”

The students have nothing left to lose

Aslan stated that a significant buildup has occurred in response to the pressures on the student movement and emphasized that intimidation policies no longer carry any weight for students. He continued: “For a long time, despite taking different forms, the struggle against the pressures imposed on universities and the student movement has continued. The appointment of a trustee rector to Bogazici University, cafeteria protests, pressure on student clubs and communities, the dismantling of student representation, problems in dormitories, harassment and mistreatment targeting female students, and tuition fees have all sparked a strong response from the student movement.

There have been serious actions throughout these periods. Students joined the Bogazici protests. The demonstrations by students at Middle East Technical University created momentum. Most recently, the annulment of Ekrem Imamoğlu’s diploma was the last straw. The Beyazit march and the toppling of police barricades marked the most critical turning point in this process. Students had nothing left to lose. Once even the value of their degrees became uncertain, they reached a point of saying, ‘This has gone too far.’

Another important element was that students took to the streets together from their faculties and campuses. Even the limited existing forms of organization, such as student communities, played a role in reinforcing the dynamism of the student movement. Compared to workers and laborers who responded individually to calls from their homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods, students acted in a more organized manner. They also deepened this organization through action, meeting in forums, making collective decisions, and carrying out a democratic process. This naturally pushed them to the forefront and made them the leading force in a protest wave that lasted for days across the country.

The nationwide spread of boycott calls stems from the clarity and strength of their demands. This must be emphasized: youth have brought immense energy and momentum to this process. It is essential to understand young people and to recognize the depth of their concerns about the future. The oppressive and repressive policies of one-man rule and the palace regime have failed. The psychological barrier has already been broken. From now on, government attacks will not go unanswered. The youth have broken their silence. The slogan ‘worker youth hand in hand, general strike now’ has become a symbol of general strike and resistance. The dam has broken.”

The government fears the unity of the Kurdish people and workers from Turkey

Seyit Aslan emphasized that the government has long tried to prevent the unification of the Kurdish people’s struggle for freedom with the struggle of workers and laborers from Turkey. He pointed out that this unity is among the developments the government fears the most and stated: “Governments and capital have always attempted to divide, fragment, and neutralize mass movements, whether in the struggle of workers and laborers for their rights or in the Kurdish people’s fight for freedom and equality. As you mentioned, sometimes certain circles within the opposition have also contributed to this, and they continue to do so today. But the broader public has not placed much trust in such rhetoric. People have focused instead on the injustice and unlawfulness they are experiencing today.

Young people have played an important role throughout this process. Among hundreds of thousands, the vast majority acted responsibly in the face of provocation. Workers and laborers no longer fall for these provocations. They listen and move on. Kurdish- Turkish workers are increasingly recognizing that their problems are shared, and they are feeling this more deeply.

We know that when the demands and struggles of the workers’ and laborers’ movement converge with those of the Kurdish people’s movement, it becomes a truly transformative force. Today, the prospect of such unity is one of the developments the government fears most. In the lead-up to May Day, the workers and laborers of both peoples will stand side by side and continue to fight for their demands. Because the demand for bread, for humane working conditions, for a life of dignity, and for fair wages is just as urgent for all workers and laborers as the demand for equality and freedom is for the Kurdish people.

As the Labour Party, we will raise our voices during the May Day period, bringing together the most urgent demands of the working class with the Kurdish people’s demand for equality and freedom. And we will continue to struggle for the construction and strengthening of this united struggle.”

The narrative of staying off the streets has been shattered

Seyit Aslan pointed out that the nationwide protests have broken the long-standing narrative within the Republican People’s Party (CHP) of 'staying off the streets,' and stated that it is indeed possible to build a united front of struggle. He emphasized that the government lost its grip during these actions and concluded his remarks as follows: “The protests that began in Sarachane and spread across the country after students broke through the barricades in Beyazit shattered the CHP’s previous approach of ‘let’s not take to the streets, it will be a provocation, the government will exploit it.’ These protests also threw the government off balance. The masses overcame the threshold of fear by testing their own strength once again. While the emergence of a mass movement could be foreseen, it was difficult to predict the conditions and the extent to which it would unfold, just like the moments we once referred to as 'Gezi, Kobanê’, or the ‘Metal Storm.’ Each of these powerful mass uprisings left us with valuable lessons. We are learning, and we are drawing lessons. This most recent wave has been no different.

As socialists and as the democratic forces in this country, our top priority must be to organize the unity and common struggle of the working class, of Kurdish and Turkish laborers, of women and youth, and of all peoples from every background. It is not enough for progressive, revolutionary, and pro-socialist forces to come together. That alone does not guarantee the unity of the people or the unity of workers and laborers. As organizations, parties, and democratic forces with different programs, we can today establish a common ground of struggle by rallying around the most urgent democratic demands and freedoms of the working class.

We must recognize that moving together has become a necessity if we want to inspire confidence in broad segments of society and demonstrate that victories can be achieved through struggle and organized power. In the face of the palace regime and one-man rule, it is clearly possible for all segments of society to stand side by side on a common front, each with their own demands, each engaged in the same struggle.

It is possible to build a front of struggle both against the government’s economic program, for a life of dignity, a living wage, and the ability to make ends meet and for the resolution of the Kurdish question under conditions of equality, as well as for our democratic rights and freedoms.”