Erdogan and the Protests: Turkey's Stubborn Man on the Bosphorus
By Maximilian Popp in Istanbul
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was on the way to becoming the most successful leader of his country since Atatürk. But he has reacted to recent protests as a tone-deaf despot. It is a tragedy for him and his country.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan has often sought out influential opponents. First there was the secular elite that tried to thwart his bid to become mayor of Istanbul. Then there were the courts in Ankara, which tried to ban his conservative Muslim Justice and Development Party (AKP). Finally, there were the generals, who had been in control since Mustafa Kemal Atatürk founded the country, and whose power he broke.
More:Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan Has Met Protests with Iron Fist - SPIEGEL ONLINE
