Riding on the wave of economic prosperity for a number of years, Erdogan had been ruling 'the roost' in a dictorial style - banning social media, restricting free press, preventing any publication of any adverse news against him, squeezing judiciary, concentrating absolute power in his own hand, devaluing women, promoting terrorism in Syria on behalf of his Wahhabi partners -- to name a few. But as the good times come to a schreeching halt, general people start to feel the 'p[i/u]nch'. Like they say, 'No money, no funny.' The psuedo-Islamic secular smokescreen is unable to contain the burning ash...
Turkey is preparing for parliamentary elections on Sunday. The vote is critical for several reasons. The first and most important reason is that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is much willing to consolidate power through an executive-style presidency. The country’s newest opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party, has become a formidable force to spoil Erdogan’s wish.
Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of Turkey’s opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) on Monday slammed Erdogan for openly threatening a journalist, saying the reaction shows the president’s weakness.
Reporters Without Borders has called on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to stop threatening journalists and meddling in the affairs of the country’s judiciary system.
A controversial 1,000-room palace built for Turkey's president will cost even more than the original £385m ($615m) price tag. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will enjoy a 250-room private residence there. Thousands of trees, each costing between £2,400 ($3,750) and £6,400 ($10,000), were imported from Italy to be planted in the palace grounds according to Ankara Architecture Chamber. The monthly electricity bill alone - likely to be footed by the taxpayer - will reach £200,000 ($313,000).
ISTANBUL — In Istanbul's centuries-old Grand Bazaar,
the hum of commerce is as noisy as ever. Vendors sell tea, coppersmiths
craft their wares, merchants shout out to passing tourists.
But beneath this hubbub, discord is brewing against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) ahead of June 7 parliamentary elections.
The Grand Bazaar, home to some 4,000 shops where over 20,000 people work, has long been seen as a bastion of support for Erdogan and the Islamic-rooted AKP.
But as the economy starts to show weakness after years of impressive growth under Erdogan, who became president in 2014 after more than a decade as premier, there are growing signs that this support is beginning to wane.
"I used to vote for AKP but it's time for a change now. They have been in power for too long. I think they are burnt out now," said Huseyin Kaya, a silver shop owner who has worked in the Bazaar for two decades.
"The economy is not good. Business is bad. I have bought merchandise for tens of thousands of dollars and I have debts now that I cannot pay back," he said.
Many of the shopkeepers and small-scale manufacturers who have thrived under the AKP's rule voted for political stability and rewarded Erdogan for the country's growing prosperity, even after a corruption scandal and anti-government protests in 2013.
But the party is entering an election under fire over Turkey's economic
performance for the first time since it came to power in 2002 due to
stalling growth, stubbornly high inflation and unemployment.
The Bazaar was the scene of protests last month by shopkeepers who refused to vacate their stalls in Sandal Bedesteni, a section of the 15th century shopping area, following a notice calling for the immediate eviction of some 80 shops.
The shopkeepers locked themselves in their shops, shouting anti-government slogans, before riot police stormed the area, evicting all the shops in Sandal Bedesteni and briefly detaining some 20 shopkeepers.
The tenants say that Fatih Municipality — run by the AKP — had leased their shops for a higher rent to a single tenant "to cover the costs of the restoration" of the Grand Bazaar, which hosted a motorcycle chase scene in 2011 in the James Bond movie "Skyfall" that caused damage to the structure.
There are rumors that the shops could be converted into hotels as part of an ambitious project by the municipality.
"The government is just spitting on our face. I don't believe in any of them anymore. I'm not going to vote for AKP because we are in a grave situation here," said Mustafa Kahraman, a cloth merchant.
Turkish economist Mustafa Donmez said "there is no economic miracle anymore" for the AKP's core voters, who until now supported the party over "bread and butter issues".
Erdogan is hoping the AKP will win a two-thirds majority in the polls in order to change the constitution and boost his office's powers to that of a US-style executive president.
The latest opinion polls, however, suggest the AKP's support could fall sharply from the almost 50 percent of the vote it garnered in 2011, with it possibly even losing its parliamentary majority.
But Selvi Gurey, who owns a souvenir shop in the bazaar, says he will vote for the AKP because he thinks a presidential system will bolster stability and economic growth. "We owe a debt of gratitude to Erdogan, who has worked so tirelessly to make our life better. I think Turkey will be better off with a stronger president," he said. — AFP
Turkey is preparing for parliamentary elections on Sunday. The vote is critical for several reasons. The first and most important reason is that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is much willing to consolidate power through an executive-style presidency. The country’s newest opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party, has become a formidable force to spoil Erdogan’s wish.
Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of Turkey’s opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) on Monday slammed Erdogan for openly threatening a journalist, saying the reaction shows the president’s weakness.
Reporters Without Borders has called on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to stop threatening journalists and meddling in the affairs of the country’s judiciary system.
In Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, rumbles of discontent against Erdogan
June 03, 2015
 |
| People walk at historical Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. The hum of commerce is as noisy as ever. Vendors sell tea, coppersmiths craft their wares, merchants shout out to passing tourists. But beneath this hubbub, discord is brewing against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) ahead of June 7 parliamentary elections. — AFP |
But beneath this hubbub, discord is brewing against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) ahead of June 7 parliamentary elections.
The Grand Bazaar, home to some 4,000 shops where over 20,000 people work, has long been seen as a bastion of support for Erdogan and the Islamic-rooted AKP.
But as the economy starts to show weakness after years of impressive growth under Erdogan, who became president in 2014 after more than a decade as premier, there are growing signs that this support is beginning to wane.
"I used to vote for AKP but it's time for a change now. They have been in power for too long. I think they are burnt out now," said Huseyin Kaya, a silver shop owner who has worked in the Bazaar for two decades.
"The economy is not good. Business is bad. I have bought merchandise for tens of thousands of dollars and I have debts now that I cannot pay back," he said.
Many of the shopkeepers and small-scale manufacturers who have thrived under the AKP's rule voted for political stability and rewarded Erdogan for the country's growing prosperity, even after a corruption scandal and anti-government protests in 2013.
The Bazaar was the scene of protests last month by shopkeepers who refused to vacate their stalls in Sandal Bedesteni, a section of the 15th century shopping area, following a notice calling for the immediate eviction of some 80 shops.
The shopkeepers locked themselves in their shops, shouting anti-government slogans, before riot police stormed the area, evicting all the shops in Sandal Bedesteni and briefly detaining some 20 shopkeepers.
The tenants say that Fatih Municipality — run by the AKP — had leased their shops for a higher rent to a single tenant "to cover the costs of the restoration" of the Grand Bazaar, which hosted a motorcycle chase scene in 2011 in the James Bond movie "Skyfall" that caused damage to the structure.
There are rumors that the shops could be converted into hotels as part of an ambitious project by the municipality.
"The government is just spitting on our face. I don't believe in any of them anymore. I'm not going to vote for AKP because we are in a grave situation here," said Mustafa Kahraman, a cloth merchant.
Turkish economist Mustafa Donmez said "there is no economic miracle anymore" for the AKP's core voters, who until now supported the party over "bread and butter issues".
Erdogan is hoping the AKP will win a two-thirds majority in the polls in order to change the constitution and boost his office's powers to that of a US-style executive president.
The latest opinion polls, however, suggest the AKP's support could fall sharply from the almost 50 percent of the vote it garnered in 2011, with it possibly even losing its parliamentary majority.
But Selvi Gurey, who owns a souvenir shop in the bazaar, says he will vote for the AKP because he thinks a presidential system will bolster stability and economic growth. "We owe a debt of gratitude to Erdogan, who has worked so tirelessly to make our life better. I think Turkey will be better off with a stronger president," he said. — AFP
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