Turkish politics has entered a volatile new chapter—one where scandal threatens to eclipse substance, and veiled threats now define high-level discourse. The latest flashpoint? A metaphor. In a recent speech, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel declared: “The radish is as big as Cyprus.”
At first glance, it might sound like nothing more than a colorful jab. But for those familiar with Turkish political vernacular, the phrase is a direct escalation. It builds on the idiom “torbadan kocaman bir turp çıkacak”—literally, “a big radish will come out of the bag”—used to signal that something nasty or shocking is about to emerge. By adding “as big as Cyprus,” Özel didn’t just imply the scandal is immense; he linked it to territory, organized crime, and transnational corruption.
Özel’s remark came in the context of his most aggressive counterattack yet against President Erdoğan, whom he accused of orchestrating a political operation against Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. During his speech, Özel claimed that 45 scandalous recordings exist—40 of which are now in the hands of the state, while 5 remain missing. These tapes were allegedly recorded in high-end hotels in Northern Cyprus, long associated with illegal gambling, drug trafficking, and intimate affairs.
These five ‘missing’ tapes lie at the heart of Erdoğan’s recent cryptic warnings. Just last month, the president ominously stated that some individuals “won’t be able to look their families in the eye” once certain information comes to light—a statement widely interpreted as a signal that compromising material might be deployed if needed.
The parallel is hard to miss: Erdoğan hinted at explosive revelations; now Özel responds by alluding to a cache of his own. “Make no mistake—this is tit for tat: If Erdoğa plays his hand, the opposition is signaling that it’s ready to do the same.
But here’s where the real gamble begins.
Erdoğan doesn’t blink. His political history is one of surviving—and even thriving—in the face of scandal, exposure, and existential crises. From corruption probes to coup attempts, Erdoğan has repeatedly emerged stronger by flipping narratives and framing himself as the target of conspiracies.
In trying to beat Erdoğan at his own game, Özel may have miscalculated. His hand is not stronger. Erdoğan controls the judiciary, state media, intelligence apparatus, and the political narrative. More importantly, engaging in mutual scandal warfare risks stripping the opposition of its moral high ground. When everyone’s hands are dirty, no one emerges clean.
By invoking Cyprus, Özel is also invoking a symbolic geography. Northern Cyprus is not just physically close—it is politically and culturally tied to Ankara’s informal networks. For years, it has operated as a twilight zone of off-the-record influence, unregulated wealth, and covert relationships. If the tapes indeed originate from this sphere, their contents could be deeply entangled with the power structures that Erdoğan depends on.
But even that won’t necessarily be enough to force a retreat.
The opposition’s belief that revealing explosive tapes could pressure Erdoğan into backing off İmamoğlu’s prosecution—or weaken his political base—may be deeply misguided. If anything, it risks dragging the country into a spiral of mutual blackmail, destabilizing what little institutional credibility remains in the system.
What we are witnessing is not just a power struggle, but a new phase in Turkey’s political gambling—where truth has taken a back seat to spectacle, and both sides now operate under the logic of exposure rather than persuasion.
In this climate, Özel’s metaphor hits hard. The radish is out of the bag—and yes, it may be as big as Cyprus. But whether that’s enough to change the course of Turkish politics—or simply deepen the crisis—remains to be seen.
By: News About Turkey (NAT)
