The defeat of Recep Tayyip Erdogan would have global consequences—and show democrats everywhere that strongmen can be beaten
Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, home to the Ottoman sultans, a monument to another imperious leader has been on display. The, Turkey’s first domestically built aircraft-carrier, was ordered into the Bosporus last month, as the country prepared to vote in an election on May 14th that is the most important anywhere in the world this year. By showing off the warship, which is making a campaign tour of the coast, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hopes to fire up patriotic voters.
Of the many bad consequences of barely constrained power, Mr Erdogan’s economic policies hurt ordinary Turks most. He sacked three governors of the notionally independent central bank in two years, made his incompetent son-in-law finance minister, and has since obliged the bank to run an absurdly loose sugar-rush monetary policy. This has kept growth fairly solid, but led to inflation that peaked at 86% last year and is still well over 40% .
Democracy has been on life support, too. Like so many other strongmen, Mr Erdogan has neutered the judiciary, via a tame legal-appointments board. He has muzzled the media, partly through intimidation, and partly through the orchestrated sale of outlets to cronies, another common ploy. He has sidelined parliament, via constitutional changes in 2017 that gave him discretion to rule by decree; Mr Kilicdaroglu promises to reverse this.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Dad hospitalised by food poisoning outbreak at five-star resort in TurkeyLiam Garnett was placed on a drip after being hit with suspected gastroenteritis while on holiday with his partner and two kids over Easter
Read more »
Iraq And Turkey Yet To Reach Deal On Restarting Kurdistan Oil Exports | OilPrice.comIraq and Turkey have not reached an agreement yet on the resumption of crude oil exports out of the semi-autonomous Iraqi region of Kurdistan from the Turkish port of Ceyhan, Iraq’s Oil Minister Ihsan Abdul Jabbar Ismaael was quoted as saying on Wednesday
Read more »
Pub that displayed golly dolls closes with owners planning to move to TurkeyFollowing criticism, the White Hart Inn, the pub where golliwog dolls were displayed, has closed its doors. Co-leaseholder Benice Ryley blamed ‘young people' for the closure, despite the fact golliwog dolls are known to have racist connotations.
Read more »
Mum loses breast and left fighting for life after ‘botched’ surgery in TurkeyGRAPHIC IMAGE WARNING: Sara Platt, who forked out £14,000 for a tummy tuck, breast implants and three other procedures in Antalya earlier this year, has spoken out about her ordeal.
Read more »
The London river that could hold the answer to saving Britain's waterwaysTurkey Brook has been transformed following a restoration that did one vital thing similar projects often overlook: it reconnected the waterway with its hyporheic zone 💧 SerinaSandhu1 reports
Read more »