Reynar: Politics Can Become Corrupt, But It Can Be Changed

Communal Democracy Party (TDP) parliamentary candidate Tacan Reynar highlighted ethics, transparency and accountability in politics in a social media post.

On the third day of his series, “Is Politics Dirty?”, Reynar delivered the message that “staying clean requires more than words”, arguing that political trust could be established not merely through promises but through rules that could be scrutinised and enforced.

Reynar said maintaining integrity in politics was particularly challenging in difficult moments, stressing the importance of how politicians respond to requests for favours from their own circles, wrongdoing within their parties and promises they fail to keep.

“What do we say when someone close to us asks for special treatment? Do we speak up when our party does something wrong? When we fail to keep a promise, can we face people and explain why?” Reynar asked, saying the real test of clean politics began in such moments.

“TRUST CANNOT BE BUILT ON PROMISES ALONE”

Reynar said public trust could not depend solely on politicians’ good intentions and promises, emphasising the need for clear rules and effective oversight mechanisms.

Saying that simply asking people to “trust us” was not enough, Reynar argued that the public should be able to see how public funds were spent, that the reasons behind appointments should be explained and that conflicts of interest should not be concealed.

He said citizens who asked questions should receive answers and that politicians’ relatives should be subject to the same rules as everyone else.

“EVERYONE EXERCISING AUTHORITY MUST HAVE CLEAR LIMITS AND RESPONSIBILITIES”

Arguing that personal trust alone could not provide sufficient safeguards in politics, Reynar said: “The only guarantee that someone who acts properly today will do so tomorrow cannot be their word alone.”

He said the limits and responsibilities of everyone exercising authority must be clearly defined, adding that this was also a requirement of the rule of law.

Reynar said the principles he advocated in politics should be open to the same scrutiny as those of others.

“My actions, just like my words, and the standards I apply to myself, just like the criticisms I direct at others, must be open to scrutiny,” he said.

“I CANNOT EXPECT THEM TO DEFEND MY MISTAKES”

Reynar said he wanted those working alongside him in politics to challenge him when necessary, stressing that political solidarity should not mean abandoning critical thinking.

“I cannot expect the people walking this path with me to defend my mistakes. I want them to object when necessary and remind me of the promises I have made,” he said.

Emphasising that solidarity did not mean giving up one’s own judgement, Reynar said criticism and self-criticism must be preserved in politics.

“POLITICS CAN BECOME CORRUPT, BUT IT CAN BE CHANGED”

In his post on the third day of the series, Reynar also addressed the impact of politics on society, arguing that politics could hurt people and drain them of hope, but that change was possible.

He said clean politics had to be demonstrated not merely through words but through political conduct that could be tested every day.

“Politics can become corrupt. It can hurt people and drain them of hope. But it is also possible to change it,” Reynar said.

At the end of his post, Reynar said he wanted a country where children could build their lives in the future without needing personal connections.

“I want a country where, when they grow up, our children can build their lives without having to ask, ‘Do I know someone who can help me?’” he said, adding that this was the source of his hope for politics and the reason he continued to fight for change.