I’m driving along the Nicosia-Girne highway, enjoying my favorite time of year in the TRNC. You rarely come across nature dominated by shades of green in the TRNC. These days are just the time to immerse yourself in the riot of colors that nature so generously displays… I strongly recommend you don’t miss it.
Songs befitting this beauty of nature are playing on my car radio; I feel lucky in the moment… But this doesn’t last very long. The same radio station switches to a political program; at least, it seems ill-timed to me! For some reason, the discussion on the program catches my attention…
A party leader says:
“…40% of voters in our country are undecided. These undecided votes are votes that can be swayed.”
The words stick in my mind, and I start wondering what “votes that can be swayed” means.
I ask myself how this 40% can be swayed.
Of course, as someone who has seen elections for years, I reach a few conclusions!
First, a political figure takes shape in my mind; I even caricature that figure a little in the depths of my imagination… I can’t help laughing at the way he carries on… Then I have that figure speak on television: “Heyyy, citizens, I’ll build you roads! I’ll build dormitories! Everyone will have their own yacht! Forget yachts—free plane tickets for everyone, from me! And so on…” he says, taking populism to the extreme.
Then I tell myself, “Come on, Cem, be serious! There are 40% undecided voters whose votes you want!” A political figure who would likely make more concrete, tangible promises takes shape in my mind. He speaks more sensibly: “We know the realities of our country. Our actions will reflect them! You can find our election program almost everywhere and learn about the actions in question. You’ll be able to find out who will carry out the projects in that program, and how,” says my second political figure. Maybe I created him, but I can’t help telling myself, “Well done—look, the man has prepared for the election.”
I can’t help wondering whether my other figure could win a share of that 40%. I actually like this other political figure very much. He starts speaking: “Heyyy, citizens, you know us, and we know you… We’ll do this and that—we will! Vote for our logo,” he says. He speaks confidently, calmly and clearly… Even though I don’t approve of him, I like this political figure…
Heyyy, 40% of undecided voters…
What will you do?
How will you be swayed?
Will you listen to those who peddle populism?
Or will you do your research, learn, and see which political party has taken your problems seriously and put together a team to address them?
Or will you stamp your ballot for the same old logo when you get to the polling station?
I don’t know what you’ll do…
All I know is that you’ll be making a choice not only for your own future, but also for the society you live in!
Don’t forget that, and please act with this awareness!
In other words, don’t let yourself be swayed!
Let your choice do the swaying!
Hoping to see you on Tuesday…
Pay attention to your surroundings, keep them clean, and please be respectful on the road!