CHP launches ‘red card’ campaign as a call for early elections

Ozgur Ozel, leader of Türkiye’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), announced a highly anticipated surprise during a public event in Mersin on Thursday.

The announcement, which he had teased earlier in the day, turned out to be the unveiling of the “Red Card” campaign—a symbolic protest against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s coalition government. The initiative calls on citizens to display red cards, mirroring the football practice where referees show red cards to expel players who violate the rules, as a form of opposition to government policies.

Describing the initiative as a call to action, Ozel urged retirees, minimum-wage earners, and others burdened by economic hardships to carry and display these cards as a visual representation of their dissatisfaction. 

The party leader referred to the March 31 elections as a “yellow card,” saying, “Back then, you issued a warning, but Mr. Tayyip didn’t get the message. Now, it’s time to show the red card.”

“From now on, keep a red card in your pocket and show it whenever you face low wages or high prices,” Ozel declared during his speech. “This government will go,” the party leader remarked.

Mixed reactions for red card

Despite its intentions, the “Red Card” campaign has been met with widespread criticism, both online and in political circles. Many observers dismissed the initiative as an ineffective gesture, questioning its ability to address the country’s serious challenges.

Critics on social media described the campaign as “juvenile” and “trivial,” with some mocking its perceived lack of substance. A known journalist with close ties to the party remarked, “Ozel gave everyone a good laugh,” while others on social media sarcastically suggested that the government might now “hold an emergency meeting” in response to the protest, emphasizing its perceived futility.

“The red card itself is not a major mistake. Symbolic actions like this are often used against authoritarian regimes around the world. The issue here is not the act of showing the red card. The real problem lies in the communication campaign that created expectations of significant relief for retirees struggling to make ends meet,” noted Onur Alp Yilmaz, head of BUPAR Research.

The criticism of “trivializing serious issues” is nothing new for Ozel. Prominent analysts and party insiders, including CHP-aligned media heavyweight Merdan Yanardag, have increasingly questioned his approach, accusing him of prioritizing publicity stunts over meaningful policy proposals to counter Erdogan’s government—a strategy they warn could “ultimately damage the CHP’s credibility.”

Not everyone, however, was perceiving the same. Emrah Gulsunar, a professor at Lund University specializing in Turkish political history, responded to the criticism by stating, “If a political move is receiving a lot of backlash on Twitter, it’s probably the right one.” He argued that the campaign had struck the right tone to resonate with the “average citizen” and emphasized that Ozel is the CHP leader who has successfully led the party to electoral victories.

CHP Party Assembly member Ali Haydar Firat stated, “There are expectations from the main opposition party,” emphasizing that the initiative aims to “create and put social pressure” on the ruling government’s policies.

The context: A deepening economic crisis

The campaign comes as Türkiye faces a severe cost-of-living crisis, with inflation drastically eroding purchasing power. Rising food and energy prices, coupled with stagnant wages, have left many struggling to afford basic necessities. Ozel highlighted these economic hardships, particularly focusing on retirees and minimum-wage earners, who he claimed have seen their purchasing power plummet under Erdogan’s administration.

He compared current pension values to their equivalents during the early years of Erdogan’s tenure, using the affordability of gold coins as a benchmark. According to Ozel, retirees today can afford significantly fewer coins, illustrating the loss of real income over the years.

“This card represents hope for Türkiye,” Ozel said, positioning the campaign as a rallying cry for economic justice and political change. 

Symbolism vs. substance

While the “Red Card” campaign aims to galvanize public dissatisfaction into political action, its reception underscores the challenges facing Türkiye’s opposition. The initiative highlights the delicate balance between symbolic protests and the need for concrete solutions to address the nation’s pressing issues.

For Ozel and the CHP, the coming months will test their ability to translate public frustration into meaningful change. Whether the “Red Card” campaign can serve as a catalyst for political mobilization or will be remembered as a misstep remains to be seen.