Politicians Take Flight Amidst Rumors

The article lambasts politicians, from mayors to lawmakers, who become elusive and unreachable when rumors or accusations surface, likening their silence to playing dead. Instead of issuing strong denials, they offer vague statements or simply become unavailable, often by switching their phones to flight mode.

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You hear rumors before they fly. Normally, you expect them to immediately deny these rumors. But there is no sound, no breath. They pretend to be dead.

This pattern of evasion is particularly criticized when these same politicians are later questioned about their past decisions, such as accepting nominations. The author points to the lack of decisive action from political parties, questioning why disciplinary proceedings are not initiated against members facing corruption allegations. This is contrasted with the 1989 local elections, where the SHP party expelled or disciplined three mayors facing such claims, even without a judicial decision, thereby avoiding accusations of corruption itself.

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But why doesn't the party take the necessary action and start the disciplinary process if it is known that they have files?

The piece argues that the current political climate, where the ruling party allegedly turns exceptional cases of pre-trial detention into a rule for opposition mayors, forces politicians to defect to the ruling party out of fear. While ruling party mayors might face less scrutiny or be asked to return embezzled funds, opposition figures allegedly face harsher consequences.

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But this expulsion did not lead anyone to accuse SHP of corruption.

The core issue, according to the author, lies in the appointment of candidates by party headquarters rather than through primary elections. This centralized control, driven by a culture of obedience, prevents long-serving, locally recognized figures from being nominated. The relentless pursuit of victory at any cost further exacerbates the problem of poor candidate selection, leading to a pervasive lack of party loyalty among elected officials.

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But why are members of parliament switching parties, brother?