FISH, NUTS AND JOBS: ELECTIONS IN TRABZON
Turkish Daily News, Turkey
July 9, 2007 Monday
Trabzon is in the center of Turkey’s Black Sea region, surrounded by
mountains and it influences the economy and politics in the region.
On one side, one sees the sea that provides a livelihood for the
fishermen and on the other there is a steep slope full of hazelnut
trees. The problem here is that neither fish nor hazelnuts are enough
to make ends meet for Trabzon’s people.
Just like many places around the country, coffee houses are full of
unemployed youth. The region is the country’s and the world’s hazelnut
center but as a result of the crash in hazelnut prices and the total
lack of industry, the people of Trabzon are far from happy.
A recent spate of crimes has also dramatically affected the mood of the
people. The murder of a priest of the Santa Maria Italian Catholic
church in Trabzon by a teenager, the murder of Armenian-Turkish
journalist Hrant Dink by another teenager from the city and several
efforts by mobs to lynch rights groups trying to protest against the
conditions in prisons.
The people blame unemployment for their restless youth. "The people
here face serious economic difficulties. There is high unemployment.
Consequently, some are exploiting these teenagers," said Kemal Karan,
a shopkeeper in the Carsibasi district.
Unemployment is one of the main factors in children and teenagers
being used in illegal activities, says Trabzon Chamber of Commerce
President Sadan Eren. "Trabzon receives a large number of migrants
from all over Turkey. That’s one of the main reasons why the rate of
unemployment is rising," he said.
Eren also said that the issue of hazelnuts was very important to the
region, noting that the lack of industry necessitated serious amounts
of assistance.
According to a study prepared by Professor Ahmet Ulusoy from Karadeniz
Technical University, 26,000 businesses shut their doors from 2000
to 2006, reflecting the state of affairs in Trabzon.
Rise in nationalism:
The escalation of terrorist violence and several funerals of
fallen soldiers have demoralized the people and provided a boost
for nationalist sentiments to creep in and this is reflected in the
projections made for the province in the parliamentary elections on
July 22. A recent funeral of a soldier killed in the southeast was
attended by 30,000 people.
In 2002, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) won six seats and
the Republican People’s Party (CHP) won two.
Locals believe this time around the far-right Nationalist Movement
Party (MHP) will join the two. Out of the eight seats the province has,
the AKP will win four, the CHP two and the MHP two, locals say.
When asked how the AKP could still be the leading party despite
being criticized so often for its hazelnut policy, locals say the
government’s refusal to pay more for hazelnuts is more than made up
for by its coal and education assistance.
The growth of the national economy has also helped the AKP.
"I am actually a CHP supporter," said businessmen Ismet Buluk. "But
I will vote for the AKP because during its term, I was able to buy
a taxi license by taking out a bank loan."
Promises focus on fish and nuts:
The competition among political parties raising the promise stakes
is heating up in Trabzon too. The promises are mainly on hazelnut
prices and fish. There is also some talk about transportation.
Hazelnut prices in 2005 were YTL 7 per kilogram and dropped to YTL
2 in 2006, sparking protests in the region. This year, it is around
YTL 3.5. The price being half of what it was in 2005 is a serious
problem for growers.
The Young Party’s (GP) parliamentary candidate from Trabzon Ayhan
Cagilci does not hold back any punches on the issue and promised to
pay the growers YTL 8 per kilogram of hazelnuts and sell it overseas
for $13. Another project he envisages is to bring the railroad to
the western Black Sea province of Samsun, four-and-a-half hours
from Trabzon.
The AKP’s provincial leader Erdogan Beder admits hazelnut prices are
a serious problem for them, but dismisses suggestions that it will
cost them a lot of votes.
"We will win at least seven of the eight seats here," he claims,
adding, "The Agricultural Products Office (TMO) purchased YTL 600
million worth of hazelnuts. If it had not been for that, the price
would have fallen to YTL 1."
Beder promises to center their tourism strategy on the Sumela Monastery
and launch a regional campaign to boost revenues. He also says the
Camurlu shipyards will be built, creating 5,000 jobs.
The CHP’s deputy from Trabzon Sevket Arz claims support for the AKP
has fallen significantly, noting that the AKP received 163,000 votes
in the 2002 general elections and 146,000 in the 2004 local elections.
"The CHP will be the top party here in the upcoming elections. The
government ruined hazelnut and tobacco growers. Unemployment is at
record highs. The Trabzon municipality wanted to employ a few people
the other day. There were 10,000 applications," he said.
Another CHP deputy from Trabzon, Akif Hamzacelebi, said the government
had lost support due to its stance on terrorism, hazelnuts and the
presidential elections, claiming that the CHP expected to win at
least half of the eight seats in Trabzon.
The MHP is expected to be the principal beneficiary of the rise
in nationalism.
MHP leader Devlet Bahceli held a rally in Trabzon a week ago, attended
by a crowd of around 15,000 people. At the rally, Bahceli severely
criticized Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the government
for failing the nation on terrorism. Locals says this is the biggest
ever crowd the MHP attracted in Trabzon. If it manages to pass the
10 percent election threshold, the MHP is expected to win at least
two parliamentary seats in Trabzon.
The Democrat Party (DP) candidate is Eyup Asik, a former Motherland
Party (ANAVATAN) deputy and minister, but almost no one gives them any
chance because many believe they will fail to clear the threshold. The
Saadet (Happiness or Contentment) Party (SP) candidate is Seref Malkoc,
former Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan’s lawyer, is seen as unlikely
to stand any chance against the AKP.
Lack of momentum in CHP:
Trabzon is further proof that election cooperation by the CHP with
the other main leftist party, Democratic Left Party (DSP) has failed
to catch the imagination of the people. The DSP withdrew from the
elections to support the CHP but the initial momentum it generated
has failed to transform into rise in support.
The CHP won two seats in 2002 and most expect it to do the same this
time around. Only if two parties manage to pass the election threshold,
the CHP may win three seats in Trabzon.
New fad in Trabzon: Beard
As one walks in the Kunduracilar Shopping Center, one clearly sees
the election mood sweeping the province. The people of the Black Sea
are passionate, even about politics.
Barber Senol Bayram in the shopping center says, "Unemployment has
destroyed us. No one comes to my shop any more. The unemployed don’t
come here to shave. Beards are the new fad in Trabzon."
The unemployment problem seems to estrange even those closest to it.
Kemal ol, who sells lemons in front of the AKP headquarters in Trabzon,
says, "There is an economic crisis. We cannot earn any money. I will
vote for a party other than the AKP."
Women of Trabzon:
There are many women in Trabzon who grow vegetables in their gardens
and sell them in markets. Ayse speaks of a customer in the market
who believes YTL 0.75 is too expensive for a kilogram of cucumbers.
"Should I give it for free?"
She turns and says, "Just look at it. It is very hard to earn a
living here."
Speaking to several women with headscarves at a teahouse, one realizes
that day-to-day problems are more important to the people of Trabzon
than the problems debated in Ankara. One person says, "I will not
vote for the AKP because they failed to solve this problem," showing
her headscarf. Others intend to vote for the AKP.
The AKP’s top candidate in Trabzon Faruk Nafiz Ozak, the infrastructure
minister, is much respected in the city and women say they will vote
for the party because of him.
Everywhere you turn you see shopkeepers complaining about lack of
customers. Selcuk Yurdakul, a shopkeeper at the Kunduracilar Shopping
Center, says, "I am going to vote for the MHP."
Pensioner Coskun Aksay said economic problems had destroyed him. He
is not happy with the candidates of political parties and says he
is undecided even though he has been a loyal True Path Party (DYP)
supporter.
Youth disillusioned:
Rampant unemployment is especially devastating for the youth, most
of whom spend their time at coffeehouses.
Speaking to a group of young people at a coffee shop, one gets a sense
of their disillusionment. Cem Tosun says he is unemployed and jokingly
adds, "When I go to the ballot box, I will vote for the party with
the prettiest logo." He says he doesn’t expect anything from any of
the parties. He asks, "What have they solved until now?
What did they do in the past that would fill me with hope about
the future?"
Dilek Erdem works part-time as a waitress. "I will not vote, because
the current political structure does not produce solutions."
Okan Baykan is more political. "I will vote for the Freedom and
Cooperation Party (ODP). The main parties cannot solve anything.
Trabzon was a leftist stronghold 20 years ago. Now it is all mixed."
His cousin Mutlu Bayran says he will choose between the CHP or the MHP,
noting that for him the important thing was nationalism.
Politics fine up to a point:
The people of Trabzon love talking about politics but what they truly
adore is Trabzonspor, their football team. Every street, shop, window
has its compulsory Trabzonspor flags.
Mutlu Baykan says he doesn’t care which party wins the election as
long as Trabzon becomes the champion.
Unfortunately, Trabzonspor, considered one of the top four teams in
the Turkish league, have been underachieving for the past few decades
and have lagged behind their Istanbul rivals Fenerbahce, Galatasaray
and Besiktas for years.
This year it finished fourth, disappointing Trabzon and its many
supporters yet again.
Salih Kurt who works at the industrial zone in the city says every
party has its own problems. "If one puts a single spoon of yogurt
into a barrel-full of milk, the taste turns sour. The people of the
Black Sea like upfront people and only honest and upfront politicians
understand them. "While there is a lot of uncertainty in the minds
of the people of Trabzon, one can be certain that parties’ policies
on economic problems, unemployment and the prices of hazelnuts will
be the main determinants of the elections here.