Two weeks after the devastating earthquake in Turkey, the government and citizens are struggling to overcome the shock. Despite government statements, most residents of all earthquake-hit areas we spoke with, as well as many officials, believe that in the first two days after the 7.8 magnitude and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes on the Richter scale, the state apparatus was in no hurry to cope with situation . In cities such as Antioch and Antiyaman, evacuations began slowly, after 60 hours. Tens of thousands of citizens were left helpless on the streets and left the districts without any organization.

The state apparatus managed to regroup many hours later, and only on the third day did the presence of rescuers and state aid, as well as security forces, begin to be felt. The army appeared on the streets of the cities on the fourth day.

They give concrete examples of the problem of opposition. While all the world’s seismological centers were talking about an earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, the Turkish Disaster Management Agency (AFAD) insisted for 6 hours on talking about an earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale. It changed the magnitude of the earthquake at noon on Monday, February 6, to 7.7 on the Richter scale.

On the 10th day of the earthquake, a representative of the Justice and Development Party declared the city of Elazig to be affected by the earthquake. In the early days, no one reported any damage there, indicating that the state apparatus was in no hurry to realize the scale of the disaster. However, everyone admits that the earthquake in Turkey is indeed, as Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, “the catastrophe of the century”, and indeed, the Turkish government is now trying to heal the wounds. He sent a lot of help, he took serious measures, but he still needs time and money.

In the political aspect, the image of the President of Turkey, according to the opposition, was completely different compared to the one he had during the devastating earthquake of 1999. At that time, Mr. Erdogan was released from prison and, as a simple politician, visited the areas affected by the earthquake and talked with the civilians of the camps. During the quake, Mr. Erdogan visited the quake-affected cities, but, according to the opposition press, he spoke to very few citizens. On the contrary, he visited government agencies, traveled to prefectures and AFAD offices and made press statements only from there. The Turkish president, according to the opposition, tried to distance himself from the people and protect himself from possible protests. On Turkish TV channels, some analysts noted that Erdogan was visiting earthquake-hit areas in a suit and tie, emphasizing that this did not help his image at a time when tens of thousands were dead, injured and homeless. During a visit to the earthquake-affected areas to console the townspeople, he stated that “these are things in terms of fate.”

However, in opposition, he is reminded of his statements in 2003, as soon as he took office as prime minister, when, after the earthquake near the city of Bingol, he stated that “behind the theft of materials in buildings is a hidden moral theft, theft from democracy, legal smuggling, political pickpockets and counterfeit government. This incident laid bare in all its nudity the way in which the state authorities disposed of state resources. This fact cannot be overcome like fate.”

Although the Europeans helped in the early days, the Turkish president only formally thanked the Emir of Qatar.

At this stage, it is taken for granted that there is popular discontent and dozens of arrests and arrests of contractors are not enough to suppress it, as so far no one has taken responsibility for either poor construction or earthquake management.

On the part of the ruling faction, there were thoughts and intentional leaks in the media about the need to postpone the presidential elections. They believe the moment is not right for an election, and analysts believe that there should be (hidden) opinion polls that show a drop in the percentage of the ruling coalition. However, opposition parties are making it clear that this cannot happen by government decision. Republican People’s Party President Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu emphasized that the Turkish Constitution provides for the postponement of elections only in a state of war and that if the Supreme Electoral Council tries to decide on the postponement, it will be tantamount to a “political coup”. Experts emphasize that only the parliament can make such a decision, but the consent of the opposition parties is also necessary. The most likely scenario, according to today’s data, is that the elections will be held on June 18, and not on May 14, as Erdogan said.

The government has promised construction of the first 33,000 houses will begin in March, and the Turkish president has said 10,000 containers ready to move in will arrive from Qatar, as they were used in the World Cup, and is providing financial assistance. earthquake victims.

Ankara believes that the most significant assistance came from Europe. But the question analysts are asking is whether Erdogan wants to turn to the West, which he was blaming even before the earthquake.

Both he and Mevlut Cavusoglu thanked all countries for the humanitarian assistance provided. However, it is impressive that both separately mentioned Qatar and Sheikh Tamim bin Hamed al Thani, who came to Turkey to meet with Erdogan in person. However, there was no mention of a close ally of Turkey, Vladimir Putin, who is due to open the Akyuyu nuclear power plant in southern Turkey in a few months.

At the same time, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s arrival in Turkey today is considered especially important, as it could mark a new page in Turkey’s damaged relations with the West.