Can Okar

I quite like Gürsel Tekin and I don’t think he means to be racist at all. I have just always found it curious how my fellow Turks can make so many faux-pas about race. My very own Beşiktaş fans recently “celebrated” Kagawa by squeezing their eyes. Probably a conversation needed.

On the one hand, it’s indicative of Turkey’s legal malaise that it’s so far back in global rankings. On the other, I don’t think an MP (who apparently follows me) should belittle African/Asian nations as “newly formed tent nations”. We, the opposition, can be better than this.https://twitter.com/gurseltekin34/status/1096364224132059137 …

Their parents. Go on, now it’s your turn.https://twitter.com/markjlittlewood/status/1096359310026854400 …

There was a lot of talk of structural reforms last August. Now might be a good time to enact them because using the state-supermarket model as a cheap workaround for inflation isn’t going to cut it.

After the dismal industrial production numbers yesterday (down 9.8% yoy), Turkey releases unemployment figures that confirm the depth of the coming crisis. Lira may have stabilised but the sudden shock from last year continues to rip at the fabric of the Turkish economy.

National emergency: opioid crisis, Puerto Rico disaster, California wildfires Not a national emergency: Mexico not paying for a medieval wall

In less than 50 days, Tayyip Erdoğan won’t have another election or campaign left to fight for at least a few years. No rallies, no stadiums, no constant otherisation. All that will be left will be running a collapsed economy. Dante will be smiling.

I realise journalism gets harder as politicians pull up the draw bridges and try to define what can and can’t be asked in return for access. But it really is your job to fight through regardless and you’re the only people who can stop this utter shambles in which we’re living.

Tips for journalists: - If someone proposes something without a plan, push them (or you get Brexit) - If someone is attacking someone else’s plan, ask them what their alternative is (or you never deal with climate change) - If the plan is nuts, say so (or you get Trump)

That Brexit Plan in full: 1) Everyone would agree with everything Lord Digby Jones wanted 2) That’s ithttps://twitter.com/digbylj/status/1095234163379261440 …

Early reports suggest the President of the Turkish FA has won the tender to run Iddaa, Turkey’s football gambling organization. If that goes through, the conflict of interest would be akin to Lance Armstrong heading up cycling’s anti-doping body.

I’m sorry to distract my Westerner friends with this triviality. I know you’re busy terrorizing Turkey by manipulating vegetable prices. Nonetheless, can I invite you to take part in this survey to prove that you do, indeed, harbour intense jealousy for Turkey?https://twitter.com/canokar/status/1095320507946287104 …

I predict this well-constructed and methodologically flawless survey will prove once and for all that the West is jealous of Turkey’s economic strength that allows its people 3kg of marginally cheaper vegetables in return for several hours of queuing.

I hope people in the West realise that there are Turks right now standing in an hours-long queue for state-rationed vegetables who believe with all their hearts that you are jealous of them.

I’m also loving the hot takes from woke opposition types about how this actually benefits the AKP. OF COURSE IT DOES! EVERYTHING BENEFITS THE AKP BECAUSE EFFECTIVE OPPOSITION HAS BEEN CRIMINALISED. Still doesn’t make it any less embarrassing for the nation as a whole.

“In the bad old CHP days, we had to queue up just to get margarine.” “You weren’t even alive then.” “The CHP mentality held Turkey back. All those queues.” “But you’re standing in a queue for rationed eggplants as we speak.” “Alhamdulillah, we are grateful for even this.”

There are people literally moaning about queues for gas and margarine in the Second World War WHILE THEY STAND IN A QUEUE FOR RATIONED CUCUMBERS IN PEACE TIME. This is crazy, delusional stuff and I’d say it was dangerous but honestly, it’s hilarious and I’m cracking up.

Watching videos of poor Turks defending the very government that has consigned them to queuing for hours to buy 3kgs of vegetables, I am reminded how potent it is to mix 99% media saturation with a people who can never admit they were wrong.