Recep Tayyip Erdogan tightens his grip on Turkey

Kshatriya87

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https://next.ft.com/content/4ee91d66-2820-11e6-8ba3-cdd781d02d89

Turkey’s new government was installed last week at the behest of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who showed who was in charge by chairing its first cabinet meeting. His new, handpicked prime minister, Binali Yildirim, announced that his “most important duty” would be to move Turkey from a parliamentary system to full presidential rule — legitimising the powers Mr Erdogan has already appropriated.

There is, it is true, an anomaly in the present power structure. Mr Erdogan became Turkey’s first directly elected president in 2014, after 11 years as prime minister, raising the question of where real power resided. His answer was simply to transfer executive power from the premier’s office to the presidency. His plan now is to change the constitution — to make de jure what is already de facto.

But this overriding drive towards one-man rule comes at a time when Turkey is looking vulnerable: politically, economically and regionally.

Last year was consumed by two general elections. Mr Erdogan’s neo-Islamist Justice and Development party (AKP) lost its majority in June, and regained it in November, helped by the rekindling of the three decades-old conflict between Turkish security forces and Kurdish insurgents, which drove hardline nationalist votes towards the ruling party. Yet even though no new election is scheduled until 2019, the president’s quest for unbridled power will keep Turkey on permanent electoral alert for many months, during which politics will usually trump policy.

Mr Erdogan will look at a number of political permutations. Parliament has voted to lift the immunity of a cross-section of MPs, but targeted 46 pro-Kurdish deputies for prosecution on terrorism charges. In theory, the AKP could pick up enough of those vacant seats to get the numbers it needs to tailor the constitution to fit its paramount leader. That is far from certain while much of the Kurdish south-east remains under siege. Equally, AKP overtures to the main nationalist party have incited a rebellion by dissidents. Taken together, this could mean yet another general election.

While Mr Erdogan and his party thrive on this sort of polarisation, it undermines governance and is replacing Turkey’s rich diversity with hardening identity politics. At a Financial Times conference in Istanbul last week, Selin Sayek Boke, in charge of economic policy for the secular and social democratic opposition Republican People’s party, gave a stark warning. “We are building a Turkey,” she said, “which does not want to share today or tomorrow.”

As far as today is concerned, Mr Erdogan’s relentless power-grab overshadows everything. Institutions and the rule of law have buckled as the separation of powers is eroded. By demanding unconditional and subservient loyalty, the president has cut himself off from the objective and granular analysis needed for solid policymaking.

He unexpectedly kept in the cabinet Mehmet Simsek, the last surviving member of an economic team with an international reputation, but seemingly with little power. Structural reforms to move Turkey’s economy towards higher investment and added value are on hold. While global sentiment has turned against emerging markets generally, a Turkey dependent on continuing inflows of cheap money is additionally exposed because Mr Erdogan demands interest rate cuts just as the US Federal Reserve looks poised to raise its rates.

Ankara’s partially restored relationship with the EU, by far its main source of foreign investment and trading partner, looks rocky. The transaction on which it hinges — Turkey acting as a holding pen for Syrian refugeessurging into Europe in exchange for visa-free entry for Turks into the EU’s Schengen area — looks undeliverable. Mr Erdogan utterly rejects any change to Turkey’s catch-all anti-terror laws, one of 72 conditions for the visa deal. He says Brussels just dreamt these up, whereas they were in the original agreement signed in 2013 when he was prime minister. Cocooned by courtiers, quite possibly he believes his own version.

Turkey, moreover, will certainly react vehemently to the German Bundestag debate on a resolution on recognising the 1915 massacres of Armenians by Ottoman Turks as genocide. Threatened by the Isis jihadi tide lapping across its border with Syria, it is implacably opposed to any further advances by Syrian Kurdish militia backed by Washington, which also places Turkey at odds with the US, its Nato ally.

Amid this gathering storm, Mr Erdogan may take satisfaction from this week’sconviction of a former Miss Turkey, one of nearly 2,000 people charged with defaming him since he became president. He also found the time to denounce family planning and contraception as contrary to Muslim values and damaging to Turkey’s future. But then again, his vision of that future is all about him.
 

Nuvneet Kundu

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https://next.ft.com/content/4ee91d66-2820-11e6-8ba3-cdd781d02d89

Turkey’s new government was installed last week at the behest of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who showed who was in charge by chairing its first cabinet meeting. His new, handpicked prime minister, Binali Yildirim, announced that his “most important duty” would be to move Turkey from a parliamentary system to full presidential rule — legitimising the powers Mr Erdogan has already appropriated.

There is, it is true, an anomaly in the present power structure. Mr Erdogan became Turkey’s first directly elected president in 2014, after 11 years as prime minister, raising the question of where real power resided. His answer was simply to transfer executive power from the premier’s office to the presidency. His plan now is to change the constitution — to make de jure what is already de facto.

But this overriding drive towards one-man rule comes at a time when Turkey is looking vulnerable: politically, economically and regionally.

Last year was consumed by two general elections. Mr Erdogan’s neo-Islamist Justice and Development party (AKP) lost its majority in June, and regained it in November, helped by the rekindling of the three decades-old conflict between Turkish security forces and Kurdish insurgents, which drove hardline nationalist votes towards the ruling party. Yet even though no new election is scheduled until 2019, the president’s quest for unbridled power will keep Turkey on permanent electoral alert for many months, during which politics will usually trump policy.

Mr Erdogan will look at a number of political permutations. Parliament has voted to lift the immunity of a cross-section of MPs, but targeted 46 pro-Kurdish deputies for prosecution on terrorism charges. In theory, the AKP could pick up enough of those vacant seats to get the numbers it needs to tailor the constitution to fit its paramount leader. That is far from certain while much of the Kurdish south-east remains under siege. Equally, AKP overtures to the main nationalist party have incited a rebellion by dissidents. Taken together, this could mean yet another general election.

While Mr Erdogan and his party thrive on this sort of polarisation, it undermines governance and is replacing Turkey’s rich diversity with hardening identity politics. At a Financial Times conference in Istanbul last week, Selin Sayek Boke, in charge of economic policy for the secular and social democratic opposition Republican People’s party, gave a stark warning. “We are building a Turkey,” she said, “which does not want to share today or tomorrow.”

As far as today is concerned, Mr Erdogan’s relentless power-grab overshadows everything. Institutions and the rule of law have buckled as the separation of powers is eroded. By demanding unconditional and subservient loyalty, the president has cut himself off from the objective and granular analysis needed for solid policymaking.

He unexpectedly kept in the cabinet Mehmet Simsek, the last surviving member of an economic team with an international reputation, but seemingly with little power. Structural reforms to move Turkey’s economy towards higher investment and added value are on hold. While global sentiment has turned against emerging markets generally, a Turkey dependent on continuing inflows of cheap money is additionally exposed because Mr Erdogan demands interest rate cuts just as the US Federal Reserve looks poised to raise its rates.

Ankara’s partially restored relationship with the EU, by far its main source of foreign investment and trading partner, looks rocky. The transaction on which it hinges — Turkey acting as a holding pen for Syrian refugeessurging into Europe in exchange for visa-free entry for Turks into the EU’s Schengen area — looks undeliverable. Mr Erdogan utterly rejects any change to Turkey’s catch-all anti-terror laws, one of 72 conditions for the visa deal. He says Brussels just dreamt these up, whereas they were in the original agreement signed in 2013 when he was prime minister. Cocooned by courtiers, quite possibly he believes his own version.

Turkey, moreover, will certainly react vehemently to the German Bundestag debate on a resolution on recognising the 1915 massacres of Armenians by Ottoman Turks as genocide. Threatened by the Isis jihadi tide lapping across its border with Syria, it is implacably opposed to any further advances by Syrian Kurdish militia backed by Washington, which also places Turkey at odds with the US, its Nato ally.

Amid this gathering storm, Mr Erdogan may take satisfaction from this week’sconviction of a former Miss Turkey, one of nearly 2,000 people charged with defaming him since he became president. He also found the time to denounce family planning and contraception as contrary to Muslim values and damaging to Turkey’s future. But then again, his vision of that future is all about him.
The US is using their classic tactics of hiring Turkish movie stars, singers, actors, and other 'eminent personalities' to publicly voice their opposition to Turkish policies, as a means to put pressure on Turkey to align with the American agenda. (Turkey is responding by putting them in jail)

It's the same thing the US does in India by hiring 'liberals' like Amir Khan to speak about 'intolerance' as a means to pull our government down. It's just that, in this case, we have no sympathy with Turkey so I am happy that they are being pressurized but there is a lesson here for India too. Keep an eye on 'eminent personalities' of India otherwise they will erupt in 2019. People like Sonam Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone are already compromized by virtue of their multi-crore rupee contracts with American firms. They are obligated to speak what their masters coach them to speak, since their financial well being and the continuation of their contracts directly depends on staying in line with American foreign policy. Just wait and watch, now Priyanka Chopra will come back from the US and suddenly start taking a stand on multiple social issues in India, as if she had a spiritual revelation in the US.


The only way to deal with such 'eminent' people is this :


Former Miss Turkey who was arrested for posting satirical poem criticising country’s president has been warned she faces two years in prison

Turkish actress faces two years in jail for ‘insulting’ President Erdogan


Now, Shabana Azmi's NGO was found to be in violation of FCRA rules. Why didn't we send her to jail?
 

jackprince

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The US is using their classic tactics of hiring Turkish movie stars, singers, actors, and other 'eminent personalities' to publicly voice their opposition to Turkish policies, as a means to put pressure on Turkey to align with the American agenda. (Turkey is responding by putting them in jail)

It's the same thing the US does in India by hiring 'liberals' like Amir Khan to speak about 'intolerance' as a means to pull our government down. It's just that, in this case, we have no sympathy with Turkey so I am happy that they are being pressurized but there is a lesson here for India too. Keep an eye on 'eminent personalities' of India otherwise they will erupt in 2019. People like Sonam Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone are already compromized by virtue of their multi-crore rupee contracts with American firms. They are obligated to speak what their masters coach them to speak, since their financial well being and the continuation of their contracts directly depends on staying in line with American foreign policy. Just wait and watch, now Priyanka Chopra will come back from the US and suddenly start taking a stand on multiple social issues in India, as if she had a spiritual revelation in the US.


The only way to deal with such 'eminent' people is this :


Former Miss Turkey who was arrested for posting satirical poem criticising country’s president has been warned she faces two years in prison

Turkish actress faces two years in jail for ‘insulting’ President Erdogan


Now, Shabana Azmi's NGO was found to be in violation of FCRA rules. Why didn't we send her to jail?
Well, can you write a consolidated article about this idea of yours. Much of the probable damage can be avoided if the people are aware from the beginning. If we might start sharing it from now itself, in 3 years the celebrity propaganda value would come down.

Anyway, we should raise an awareness against the celebrity propaganda. We should point out that being visible for their acting skills or entertainment skill doesn't make them any wiser on socio-politico-economical issues. A awareness campaign started from the root has quite a chance to pervade the socil media and thus the people.
 

Nuvneet Kundu

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Well, can you write a consolidated article about this idea of yours. Much of the probable damage can be avoided if the people are aware from the beginning. If we might start sharing it from now itself, in 3 years the celebrity propaganda value would come down.

Anyway, we should raise an awareness against the celebrity propaganda. We should point out that being visible for their acting skills or entertainment skill doesn't make them any wiser on socio-politico-economical issues. A awareness campaign started from the root has quite a chance to pervade the socil media and thus the people.
But the BJP government has hired Amir Khan and Nandita Das, so despite our good intentions and efforts, stupidity will prevail in the BJP, as it consistently has prevailed. BJP also invited Sonam Kapoor to be the chief guest during Putin's visit. BJP has also shut down Niti Central and hired all erstwhile Marxist writers and given them exclusive charge of the SwarajyaMag. If someone has decided to commit suicide, we really can't stop them. There's nothing for us to do here, just sit back and enjoy. We are talking about foreign agenda and I heard Doval in Pune yesterday talking about irresponsible media and atrocity literature but Zee news is the biggest peddler of atrocity literature. There is no coherent narrative or agenda which the government has; All they have is the mindset of an opposition leader. They have delivered nothing on the cultural front and aren't even on the path to do so.

They will build roads and dams till 2019, then Congress will spin some secular Chakravyuha like they did during Bihar elections, and BJP will be trapped in it and get kicked out of power.
 
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jackprince

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But the BJP government has hired Amir Khan and Nandita Das, so despite our good intentions and efforts, stupidity will prevail in the BJP, as it consistently has prevailed. BJP also invited Sonam Kapoor to be the chief guest during Putin's visit. BJP has also shut down Niti Central and hired all erstwhile Marxist writers and given them exclusive charge of the SwarajyaMag. If someone has decided to commit suicide, we really can't stop them. There's nothing for us to do here, just sit back and enjoy. We are talking about foreign agenda and I heard Doval in Pune yesterday talking about irresponsible media and atrocity literature but Zee news is the biggest peddler of atrocity literature. There is no coherent narrative or agenda which the government has; All they have is the mindset of an opposition leader. They have delivered nothing on the cultural front and aren't even on the path to do so.

They will build roads and dams till 2019, then Congress will spin some secular Chakravyuha like they did during Bihar elections, and BJP will be trapped in it and get kicked out of power.
Well, I was wondering about Swarajya as in what happened to it! Same about the Niti Central. Thanks for the info.

About,, Aamir Khan and Nandita Das. Can you please elaborate on it? I did not know they have been hired by GoI.

Anyway, Modi is a failure when the Hindu cause is the issue. If he and Assam Govt fails to stop infiltration and counting the illegals, 2019 they will be punished.

Anywy, from Smriti Irani's interview to Burkha, it is clear that the leaders are waking up to the dissatisfaction of the followers. Lets see if they wake up enough to do something useful actually.
 

Nuvneet Kundu

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Well, I was wondering about Swarajya as in what happened to it! Same about the Niti Central. Thanks for the info.

About,, Aamir Khan and Nandita Das. Can you please elaborate on it? I did not know they have been hired by GoI.

Anyway, Modi is a failure when the Hindu cause is the issue. If he and Assam Govt fails to stop infiltration and counting the illegals, 2019 they will be punished.

Anywy, from Smriti Irani's interview to Burkha, it is clear that the leaders are waking up to the dissatisfaction of the followers. Lets see if they wake up enough to do something useful actually.
They have no control over the media, everyone is taking cheapshots at the government, including their own channels, which are considered to be pro-BJP. This is the same BJP which had legalized FDI in media. Seems like they still haven't learnt their lesson.



The first thing BJP did in Maharashtra was to hire Amir Khan as a brand ambassador for their water campaign. They had hired Nandita Das for beti bachao but they had to remove her after social media outcry.




There is no limit to BJP's stupidity so we can go on and on and fill many pages; This is a topic for some other thread, I think @Kshatriya87's thread is getting derailed unnecessarily.
 

Bharat Ek Khoj

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BJP has also shut down Niti Central
Would like to know about it. Any article or info ?
f he and Assam Govt fails to stop infiltration and counting the illegals, 2019 they will be punished.
Never think of it, else bangladesh border will be open again. Previous gov has stabbed mother india from every side. Will take some time to heal.
 

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Not there yet but Turkey on path to become next Pakistan

There isn’t much that Turkey’s president can do these days to further debase his reputation in the West. Recep Tayyip Erdogan has crushed peaceful protests at home and abroad, closed newspapers, threatened American soldiers and collectively scapegoated Kurds. But over the weekend, Erdogan managed to go even lower.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey with Amine Tiras, 6, in Kahramanmaras on Saturday. “Maroon berets don’t cry,” he told her. CreditTurkish Presidential Press Office, via European Pressphoto Agency

At a rally at Kahramanmaras, the Turkish leader brought a trembling 6-year-old girl on stage dressed in military garb and told her she would be honored if she died as a martyr. He sounded like a terrorist. We expect this kind of child abuse from the fanatics in Hamas or Hezbollah. Erdogan though is the leader of an important NATO ally.

Turkey is beginning to resemble Pakistan, a perpetually failing state whose military leadership has tolerated and advanced a vision of political Islam deeply hostile to US and Western interests.

To be sure, Turkey is not quite there yet. There is still a majority of Turks who want to eventually join the European Union. The Turkish economy is stronger than Pakistan’s, and its banks are more trusted.

And unlike in Pakistan, the driving force to further Islamize society has come from Erdogan, an elected leader, not the military.

That said, Erdogan is following the Pakistani model in disturbing ways, according to Husain Haqqani, the former Pakistani ambassador to Washington. Haqqani, a former journalist, is in a unique position to evaluate this trend because he wrote the best history of how the Pakistani military embraced Islamic fundamentalism.

In an interview Haqqani said Erdogan’s approach was reminiscent of Pakistan’s military dictator between 1978 and 1988, Zia ul-Haq. Like Zia, Erdogan has instituted legal and societal reforms to further Islamize society.


“Erdogan has taken the Pakistani formula of mixing hard-line nationalism with religiosity,” Haqqani said. “Zia imposed Islamic laws by decree, amended the constitution, marginalized secular scholars and leaders, and created institutions for Islamization that have outlasted him. Erdogan is trying to do the same in Turkey.”
https://nypost.com/2018/03/03/turkey-is-turning-into-another-pakistan/amp/
 
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