Turkey – Ballot boxes are at the heart of democracy, but in Turkey, they have become a battleground. The opposition party CHP’s decision to set up thousands of ballot boxes across the country in support of Ekrem İmamoğlu is a direct challenge to Erdoğan’s authoritarian grip. With over 15.6 million votes counted and more still being tallied, this is no longer just an election stunt—it’s a powerful statement that millions refuse to be silenced. The question now is whether Erdoğan will respect the people’s will or continue his reign of fear and suppression.
The government’s response has been anything but democratic. Police forces have attacked peaceful protesters with ruthless violence, showing the world just how fragile Erdoğan’s power truly is. Shocking footage reveals officers brutally beating civilians, including women and children, as if they were enemies rather than citizens demanding their rights. This isn’t just law enforcement—it’s a desperate regime lashing out at a population that has had enough of its oppression.
Erdoğan’s rule has always been about control, not democracy. If he had confidence in the people’s support, he wouldn’t need riot police to silence dissent. The CHP’s ballot box initiative exposes his hypocrisy, proving that his greatest fear is a fair and open electoral process. The Turkish people are making their voices heard despite the threats, and their resilience is shaking the foundations of Erdoğan’s carefully constructed illusion of democracy.
The international community, however, remains shamefully quiet. Europe claims to champion democracy, but when Turkish citizens are beaten for exercising their rights, where is the outrage? The West has long chosen strategic alliances over human rights, and once again, the people of Turkey are left to fight alone. If democratic nations truly care, they must act—not with weak statements, but with real consequences for Erdoğan’s crackdown on freedom.
Yet, despite the brutality, the Turkish people are not backing down. The ballot boxes set up by the CHP are more than just a voting mechanism—they are a symbol of defiance, a declaration that the people will not surrender to dictatorship. This is a moment that could define Turkey’s future, and the world must not look away as a nation fights to reclaim its democracy.