Turkey Watch Thread

[raklian]

Damn.

[caltrek]

Erdogan’s Grip on Power in Peril as Turks Go Into Crucial Vote
by Cain Burdeau
May 10 , 2023

Introduction:

(Courthouse News) — After 20 years in power, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is in the fight of his political life as he faces possible defeat at the polls this month due to rising public anger over soaring inflation, disillusionment with his leadership after catastrophic earthquakes and a united opposition eager to oust a man they condemn as a corrupt autocrat.

Turkish voters will vote in bitterly contested presidential and parliamentary elections on Sunday in what is being described by Erdoğan's critics as one of Turkey's most crucial elections ever because if the president stays in power the prospects for democracy, regional peace and economic vitality are bleak.

Ahead of Sunday's big vote, hopes are high that the Erdoğan era is indeed coming to an end.

“It's the first time people are feeling that the tables are going to turn,” said Anil Aba, a political economist at Yasar University in Izmir, in a telephone interview.

The outcome of the elections has huge ramifications because Erdoğan is seen as the leader of a NATO state with neo-imperial ambitions who's dismantled democracy at home and turned Turkey away from the West.

Read more here: https://www.courthousenews.com/erdogan ... l-vote/

[caltrek]

Results Start Trickling in for Fiercely Fought Elections that Could Unseat Turkey’s Erdogan
by Tamara Qiblaw
One Hour Ago

Introduction:

(CNN) Early results in Turkey’s general elections started to come in on Sunday after the country’s Supreme Election Council lifted reporting restrictions.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was ahead of his rivals with 21.33% of the votes counted. However, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) said early data was positive, and that it would begin to share figures once the proportion of the vote counted was higher.

State-run news agency agency Anadolu reported early projections that showed Erdogan had 55.03% of votes, compared to 39% for the main opposition candidate, Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

Sinan Ogan has received 5.40% votes, according to Anadolu.

Votes are still being counted almost three hours after polling stations closed across the country.

Read more here: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/r ... -AA1b9Py3

Al Jazeera has a live tracking site for the election:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblo ... under-way

At this writing, it shows:

Erdogan (AKP) 51.2%

Kilcdaroglu (CHP) 42.9%

Ogam (ATA Alliance) 5.3%

Ince (Homeland Party) .5%

[Time_Traveller]

Results Start Trickling in for Fiercely Fought Elections that Could Unseat Turkey’s Erdogan
by Tamara Qiblaw
One Hour Ago

Introduction:

(CNN) Early results in Turkey’s general elections started to come in on Sunday after the country’s Supreme Election Council lifted reporting restrictions.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was ahead of his rivals with 21.33% of the votes counted. However, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) said early data was positive, and that it would begin to share figures once the proportion of the vote counted was higher.

State-run news agency agency Anadolu reported early projections that showed Erdogan had 55.03% of votes, compared to 39% for the main opposition candidate, Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

Sinan Ogan has received 5.40% votes, according to Anadolu.

Votes are still being counted almost three hours after polling stations closed across the country.

Read more here: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/r ... -AA1b9Py3

Al Jazeera has a live tracking site for the election:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblo ... under-way

At this writing, it shows:

Erdogan (AKP) 51.2%

Kilcdaroglu (CHP) 42.9%

Ogam (ATA Alliance) 5.3%

Ince (Homeland Party) .5%

I would love to see Turkey to go back to a Parliamentary democracy but I think it would be a long shot especially since Erdogan has been in power for 20 years.

[Xyls]

Congratulations to the Turks on their election thus far.

Erdogan being graceful about peaceful transfer of power? Trump could never.

[weatheriscool]

https://apnews.com/article/turkey-elect ... 0b5c168992

Election count shows Turkey’s Erdogan under threshold needed to avoid presidential election runoff
By SUZAN FRASER and ZEYNEP BILGINSOY

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Voter support for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dipped below the majority required to win reelection outright with the ballot count from Turkey’s national election nearly completed Sunday, making it more likely Turkey is headed toward a May 28 presidential runoff.

With almost 91% of ballot boxes counted, Erdogan had 49.9% of the vote, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency. His main challenger, opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, had 44.4% as the gap between the two shrank.

Meanwhile, the opposition-leaning Anka news agency reported that with 95% of ballot boxes counted, Erdogan had 49% and Kilicdaroglu 45%.

If neither candidate secures more than 50%, the two will compete in a run-off vote in two weeks. Turkey’s election authority, the Supreme Electoral Board, said it was providing numbers to competing political parties “instantly” but would not make the results public until the count was completed and finalized.

Further complicating the picture, the opposition candidate’s party accused Anadolu of manipulating results, insisting that Kilicdaroglu was narrowly leading with 47.42% to Erdogan’s 46.80%.

[caltrek]

Why Did Erdoğan Do Better Than Predicted?
by Salih Yasun
May 15, 2023

Extract:

(The Conversation) Multiple reasons can account for Erdoğan’s strong performance. Although Turkish citizens have suffered from severe inflation, it appears that Erdoğan’s message of putting national security interests above economic challenges convinced a substantial portion of his conservative and nationalist base.

This is despite the fact that Erdoğan’s party, AKP, keeps losing popularity, particularly in metropolitan districts. The percentage of nationwide support for AKP declined from 42.5% in 2018 to 35.6% in 2023.

However, Erdoğan manages to remain afloat by adding small Islamist and nationalist parties to his coalition. By doing that, he has allowed his base to vote for coalition parties other than the AKP while maintaining their support for his own candidacy within the presidential race. It is not uncommon to hear people in Turkey complain about corruption and dissatisfaction in the country’s economic performance who keep voting for Erdoğan as national leader.

Meanwhile, regions hit by an earthquake earlier this year did not punish Erdoğan for the poor initial response as severely as many had expected.
I should also add that Turkey’s commitment to free and fair eletions has been questioned. Erdoğan uses state resources and his control over the judiciary and a significant portion of the media for his own advantage. In a few instances, the opposition candidates were intimidated by vigilantes.

Read more here: https://theconversation.com/turkeys-pr ... te-205719

[weatheriscool]

Turkey's Erdogan claims victory in presidential election
Source: Reuters

ISTANBUL, May 28 (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan claimed victory in Turkey's presidential election on Sunday, a win that would steer his increasingly authoritarian rule into a third decade.

Addressing supporters, Erdogan said voters had given him the responsibility to rule for the next five years.

"The only winner is Turkey," he said, addressing cheering supporters from atop a bus in Istanbul.

Final official results have yet to be released.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-ea ... 023-05-27/

[caltrek]

Turkey's Erdogan claims victory in presidential election
Source: Reuters

...

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-ea ... 023-05-27/

More from Mother Jones:

Introduction:

(Mother Jones) Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan won reelection on Sunday, cementing his grip on power. First elected in 2003 as prime minister, Erdogan has reshaped Turkey from its secular moderate democratic system to a more religious and increasingly authoritarian power structure. Erdogan’s rule has complicated Turkey’s relationships with Western leaders—he is currently impeding Sweden’s entrance into NATO—but did find an eager ally in Donald Trump.

The former president took to Truth Social on Sunday afternoon to effusively praise the election outcome…

Further Extract:

Erdogan’s administration has been ruthlessly efficient in cracking down on LGBTQ community—”We are against LGBT,” Erdogan announced at a campaign rally recently—and he has complained about gender equality, saying women are not equal to men. His administration largely fumbled the response to devastating earthquakes in February that killed more than 50,000 people.

Read more here: https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2 ... n-trump/

[weatheriscool]

Erdogan Dealt Five Major Blows to Putin in Just One Week
Source: Newsweek

Erdoğan called on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to fast-track Ukraine's application to become a member of the military alliance on Saturday. Ukraine announced a bid for fast-track NATO membership in September 2022 after Putin said Moscow had annexed four Ukrainian regions partially controlled by Russia. Should Ukraine become a member, NATO would be obligated to take action to defend the country against Russia in the war.
...
Another move likely to rattle Putin is Turkey's move to greenlight the construction of a plant to produce the Turkish-designed Bayraktar TB2—a drone that has proved crucial for Ukraine in the ongoing war.
...
In a joint appearance with Zelensky, Erdoğan told reporters that Ankara wants a deal that allows grain to be exported from Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea to be extended for three months instead of two.
...
On Saturday, Russia accused Ukraine of violating a prisoner exchange deal after Zelensky brought home from Turkey five commanders who defended the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol last year.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/erdogan-deals- ... es-1812217

[Powers]

Erdogan Dealt Five Major Blows to Putin in Just One Week
Source: Newsweek

...

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/erdogan-deals- ... es-1812217

Marjorie Taylor Greene introduces amendment directing Biden to withdraw from Nato
Source: The Independent

...

Read more: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/worl ... 73535.html

Realpolitiks.

[caltrek]

Turkic States Cut Their Ties with Mother Russia
by Luke Coffey
November 11, 2023

Introduction:

(Arab News via Eurasia Review) Last week, the leaders of the Organization of Turkic States met in Astana, Kazakhstan, for their 10th anniversary summit. The theme of the forum was “Turktime” — an interesting use of English to create an acronym for “Traditions, Unification, Reforms, Knowledge, Trust, Investments, Mediation, Energy.”

Although this acronym might seem clumsy, Turktime does a good job summing up both the origins and future ambition of the OTS. The organization began as the Turkic Council in 2009 at a meeting between the four founding members, Turkiye, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan, in the latter’s Autonomous Republic of Nakhchivan. The original idea behind the initiative was deepening the shared cultural, historic, and linguistic roots, and enhancing economic and trade relations, between the ethnically Turkic countries of Eurasia.

In addition to the four founding members, Uzbekistan joined as a full member in 2019. Meanwhile, Turkmenistan, Hungary, and the de facto Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus have joined as observers. Other countries have expressed interest in joining the OTS as observers, including some with sizable Turkic minorities, such as Moldova (home to the Gagauz people) and Ukraine (because of the Crimean Tatars).

Hungary’s observer status in the OTS is both interesting and telling. Some, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, believe that Hungarians are descended from Turkic people originating in Central Asia. During certain points in history, Hungary shared a border with the Ottoman Empire. Although Hungarian is a part of the Uralic language family, it contains many loanwords from Turkish. However, Orban’s motivation to build ties with Turkic states is more about economics and trade than about culture and history.

For example, in the last decade, trade between Hungary and the countries of the OTS has more than doubled. At a time of energy uncertainty across Europe, Hungary recently signed an agreement with OTS member Azerbaijan for more natural gas. The case of Hungary is worth highlighting because it demonstrates the appeal of the OTS to countries that have even the most tenuous link to Turkic culture and history.

Read more here: https://www.eurasiareview.com/11112023 ... nalysis/

[Time_Traveller]

Turkey’s opposition party sweeps to local elections victory in snub to Erdoğan

Sun 31 Mar 2024 23.24 BST

Turkey’s main opposition party dealt an unexpected blow to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s rule on Sunday with a sweeping victory in Turkey’s local elections, maintaining control of major cities including the capital, Ankara, and Istanbul, where Ekrem Imamoğlu secured a second term as mayor.

“My dear Istanbulites, you opened the door to a new future today,” Imamoğlu told overjoyed supporters of his opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) while declaring victory. “Starting from tomorrow, Turkey will be a different Turkey. You opened the door to the rise of democracy, equality and freedom … You ignited hope at the ballot box.”

Favourable turnout continued benefit the opposition as the night wore on, and the CHP secured control of a broad swath of western Turkey and scored wins across more conservative regions next to the Black Sea and central Anatolia, areas traditionally seen as hostile to its policies.

The results quickly became symbolic of dissatisfaction with Erdoğan, who began rallying his supporters to turn out in local elections immediately after winning the presidency last year.

Erdoğan was at the forefront of his party’s campaign to retake Istanbul, holding rallies in the city in the week before the vote and attending prayers at the symbolic Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul the night prior to the ballot.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/ ... ip-erdogan

[caltrek]

Turkey’s opposition party sweeps to local elections victory in snub to Erdoğan

Sun 31 Mar 2024 23.24 BST

Turkey’s main opposition party dealt an unexpected blow to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s rule on Sunday with a sweeping victory in Turkey’s local elections, maintaining control of major cities including the capital, Ankara, and Istanbul, where Ekrem Imamoğlu secured a second term as mayor.

“My dear Istanbulites, you opened the door to a new future today,” Imamoğlu told overjoyed supporters of his opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) while declaring victory. “Starting from tomorrow, Turkey will be a different Turkey. You opened the door to the rise of democracy, equality and freedom … You ignited hope at the ballot box.”

Favourable turnout continued benefit the opposition as the night wore on, and the CHP secured control of a broad swath of western Turkey and scored wins across more conservative regions next to the Black Sea and central Anatolia, areas traditionally seen as hostile to its policies.

The results quickly became symbolic of dissatisfaction with Erdoğan, who began rallying his supporters to turn out in local elections immediately after winning the presidency last year.

Erdoğan was at the forefront of his party’s campaign to retake Istanbul, holding rallies in the city in the week before the vote and attending prayers at the symbolic Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul the night prior to the ballot.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/ ... ip-erdogan

More on that: https://www.commondreams.org/news/turkish-elections

[Time_Traveller]

Turkey’s opposition party sweeps to local elections victory in snub to Erdoğan

Sun 31 Mar 2024 23.24 BST

Turkey’s main opposition party dealt an unexpected blow to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s rule on Sunday with a sweeping victory in Turkey’s local elections, maintaining control of major cities including the capital, Ankara, and Istanbul, where Ekrem Imamoğlu secured a second term as mayor.

“My dear Istanbulites, you opened the door to a new future today,” Imamoğlu told overjoyed supporters of his opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) while declaring victory. “Starting from tomorrow, Turkey will be a different Turkey. You opened the door to the rise of democracy, equality and freedom … You ignited hope at the ballot box.”

Favourable turnout continued benefit the opposition as the night wore on, and the CHP secured control of a broad swath of western Turkey and scored wins across more conservative regions next to the Black Sea and central Anatolia, areas traditionally seen as hostile to its policies.

The results quickly became symbolic of dissatisfaction with Erdoğan, who began rallying his supporters to turn out in local elections immediately after winning the presidency last year.

Erdoğan was at the forefront of his party’s campaign to retake Istanbul, holding rallies in the city in the week before the vote and attending prayers at the symbolic Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul the night prior to the ballot.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/ ... ip-erdogan

More on that: https://www.commondreams.org/news/turkish-elections

I'm interested in what the ramifications of this will be and how it will reflect the national elections?

[firestar464]

I heard somewhere that "whoever owns Istanbul owns the country"

[Time_Traveller]

Turkey parliament descends into chaos as dozens of MPs take part in fistfight

Sat 17 Aug 2024 03.10 BST

Dozens of lawmakers became embroiled in a fisticuffs brawl in Turkey’s parliament on Friday as they argued over a jailed opposition deputy stripped of his parliamentary immunity this year.

The 30-minute ruckus, which left at least two lawmakers injured, forced the suspension of the hearing. Deputies eventually returned for a vote that rejected an opposition move to restore the parliamentary mandate of lawyer and rights activist Can Atalay.

Atalay won his seat in an election last year after campaigning from his prison cell.

The parliamentary turmoil erupted after ruling Justice and Development party (AKP) member Alpay Ozalan launched into Ahmet Sik, a member of the leftist Workers’ party of Turkey (TIP), who had condemned the government’s treatment of Atalay.

“It’s no surprise that you call Atalay a terrorist,” Sik said.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/artic ... -fistfight

[weatheriscool]

[firestar464]

Turkey detains Istanbul mayor in what opposition calls 'coup'

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-ea ... 025-03-19/

[firestar464]

Foreign Policy- Erdogan Risks Overplaying His Hand

https://archive.ph/Qu51G