Opposition groups meet in Izmir to discuss unified struggle

Following similar gatherings in Istanbul and Ankara, various components of the social opposition met in Izmir for the ‘Yan Yana’ (Side by Side) forum. Held at the Izmir Branch of the Chamber of Architects, the event brought together hundreds of participants, including political parties, unions, professional chambers, women's organizations, and youth movements.

The forum focused on discussing a common ground for struggle, addressing democracy, economic and social crises, and the organization of social opposition. Participants aimed to unify different areas of struggle to create a more cohesive movement.

During the opening speech, BirGün newspaper columnist Bülent Forta argued that traditional party-dominated politics in Turkey is in crisis. He characterized the AK Party as a structure centered on a single individual, noted that the CHP no longer functions as a classic political party, and described the MHP as acting like a National Security Council. Forta called for a new type of politics that is not solely indexed to elections, but rather one where ordinary people engage in politics based on shared issues such as housing, cost of living, peace, equality, and justice.