The AKP is working - working hard

While these words were being penned, parliament was debating the extension of the state of emergency by a further three months. In our line of work, it would be wrong to say that it has been extended until it is a done deal. But, my colleagues from the Ankara office told me unwaveringly, ‘Mate, it will be extended. You can write that it has been extended without hesitation.’ Then they added, ‘The government convened yesterday under Erdoğan’s chairmanship and they took the decision at that time, in any case. It’s hardly likely to change in parliament.’
Spot on. If Erdoğan has so decided, that means it will be extended. The whole of Turkey will continue to live under a state of emergency regime from 19 January to 19 April.
What will happen after 19 April?
No big deal. It will be extended, this time until 19 July, that is all.
What is a state of emergency?
There will be those eloquent souls who expound on it at length; there will be those dozy souls who will try to explain it all away; and there will be those devious souls who speak of the place in the constitution for a state of emergency and it not being an unlawful measure.
But, there is a straightforward answer.
A state of emergency is ‘martial law in civilian guise’ headed not by generals, but provincial governors, and that is what it boils down to.
Basic rights and freedoms can be suspended and this, for the most part, is what happens.
Those who are not convinced need to take a look at what has been implemented under the state of emergency until now.
***
The AKP MPs, supported by Devlet Bahçeli’s crew, deciding of their own free will(!), extended the state of emergency. On Monday, then, the country’s parliamentary democracy tradition that stretches back to Ottoman times will convene for its funeral and begin to debate the ‘Erdoğan Constitution’.
Are you telling me they will really debate it?
Or, have they long since decided, having effectively given carte blanche?
I have no intention of attracting the wrath of some public prosecutor who will see himself duty bound to raise charges of ‘disrespecting the will of parliament.’ So, let us await the debate that is slated to start on Monday and the result of the two rounds of voting.
Even so, it is all but impossible not to praise the AKP crew that is forced to make believe, both in Monday’s constitutional amendment and in yesterday’s debate over extending the state of emergency. It must be a tough job to make believe and pretend that you can actually make a difference and make speeches in all seriousness and raise your hand in business ranging from extending the state of emergency to amending the constitution that has already been decided on in a place that cannot make up its mind whether it is a latter-day Ottoman social complex or a palace.
As I said, the AKP is working; working hard.
***
To stay out of hot water, let me fill up the rest of my space with a joke.
An Ottoman pasha was hosting some eminent guests at his mansion and, following the meal, the time came to smoke hashish from long pipes.
The pasha signalled to one of the servant boys on duty and ordered him to liven up the fire on the brazier there. With the youngster getting the flames going by piling on embers and coal from a shovel, he trod on one of the long pipes and the pipe snapped with a crack. He jumped, saying, ‘Oh no!’ and did in for somebody else’s pipe, then, in the endeavour to get away from that one, broke a third one asunder.
The pasha suppressed his anger and said, ‘Step back, son, step back. Let’s get somebody straight away who knows how to do the job,’ but our lad bowed his head and came out with: ‘Pasha your excellency, there are three or four pipes left here. I will see to them and then step back.’
The state of emergency is a done deal. Constitutional change is not far off.
How many pipes are left?