Walk the line

"I find myself alone when each day is through / Because you're mine, I walk the line" (Johnny Cash)

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu recently started the most ambitious attempt of his political life. His "march for justice," which began in the Turkish capital Ankara is about to enter its second week and it has already drawn various reactions. Even members of his own party were skeptical when Kılıçdaroğlu first threw out the idea. Many CHP heavyweights shrugged that it would not change anything, and indeed perhaps it won't. But it is certainly a major change in the dynamics of the "No" front.

Kılıçdaroğlu has been under heavy fire after the contested constitutional referendum, with critics saying he was not harsh enough against the Supreme Electoral Board (YSK) or the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party). There is still criticism in Ankara even after his march started. "He should have done this back in April. He could have organized mass protests, sit-ins, anything," said one respected journalist from daily Sozcu." 

The critics may have a point, but after a long campaign and a tiring referendum process, people were exhausted. We at CNN Türk saw this even in the ratings. The overall ratings of news stations dropped radically after the referendum because everyone was so fed up with politics. Three months later, it is a different story.

A couple of things have happened to create this change. The trials of high-ranking soldiers who took place in the July 2016 coup attempt started, while parliament's ad-hoc commission investigating the coup attempt released its initial report. What's more, the sons-in-law of some very senior figures were arrested (and then released) over their ties to...