Friday, June 30, 2023

ANF | At least 600 women murdered in the 2 years since Turkey’s withdrawal from Istanbul Convention

At least 600 women murdered in the 2 years since Turkey’s withdrawal from Istanbul Convention At least 600 women have been murdered in the 2 years since Turkey’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, and at least 400 women have lost their lives in suspicious circumstances. More:7 ANF | At least 600 women murdered in the 2 years since Turkey’s withdrawal from Istanbul Convention

Wealthiest People in Turkey (June 30, 2023) - CEOWORLD magazine

Wealthiest People in Turkey (June 30, 2023) Lisa BrownStats GateJune 30, 2023 As of June 30, 2023, Murat Ulker was the wealthiest person in Turkey, with an estimated net worth of 4.9 billion U.S. dollars, followed by Ibrahim Erdemoglu (No. 2, $4.6 billion), Ali Erdemoglu (No. 3, $4.0 billion); and Semahat Sevim Arsel (No. 4, $2.5 billion). More:7 Wealthiest People in Turkey (June 30, 2023) - CEOWORLD magazine

Wednesday, June 28, 2023

World Bank Approves $1 Billion for Türkiye to Help Restore Rural Homes and Essential Public Services to People in Earthquake-Hit Areas - Türkiye | ReliefWeb

World Bank Approves $1 Billion for Türkiye to Help Restore Rural Homes and Essential Public Services to People in Earthquake-Hit Areas WASHINGTON, June 27, 2023—The World Bank Board today approved $1 billion in financing to support Türkiye’s efforts to restore essential public services and resilient rural housing in areas that were hit by catastrophic earthquakes earlier this year. More:World Bank Approves $1 Billion for Türkiye to Help Restore Rural Homes and Essential Public Services to People in Earthquake-Hit Areas - Türkiye | ReliefWeb

Friday, June 23, 2023

Turks in Germany: President Erdogan's long arm strategy - Qantara.de

Turks in Germany President Erdogan's long arm strategy The inauguration of Turkish President Erdogan was attended by many international heads of state. Also present were representatives of the Turkish diaspora. Turks abroad are especially important to Erdogan – particularly those living in Germany. By Elmas Topcu More:Turks in Germany: President Erdogan's long arm strategy - Qantara.de

Turkish lira plunges to new lows following rate hike-Xinhua

Turkish lira plunges to new lows following rate hike Source: XinhuaEditor: huaxia2023-06-23 19:41:30 ISTANBUL, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Turkish currency on Friday sank to fresh lows against the U.S. dollar a day after the central bank hiked its key interest rate well below market expectations. More:Turkish lira plunges to new lows following rate hike-Xinhua

Thursday, June 22, 2023

The end of Erdoğanomics? Turkey almost doubles interest rates to fight inflation – POLITICO

The end of Erdoğanomics? Turkey almost doubles interest rates to fight inflation The apparent U-turn is being entrusted to mainstream financial experts, while Erdoğan himself still insists interest rates should remain low. More:The end of Erdoğanomics? Turkey almost doubles interest rates to fight inflation – POLITICO

Wednesday, June 21, 2023

How the Turkey Earthquake Gave Syrians a Taste of Freedom | Time

It Took an Earthquake for These Syrian Refugees to Feel at Home in Turkey JUNE 20, 2023 6:21 PM EDT When a series of earthquakes killed thousands along the Turkish-Syrian border in February, many of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees who settled in Turkey after the beginning of the civil war returned to Syria. More:How the Turkey Earthquake Gave Syrians a Taste of Freedom | Time

Tuesday, June 20, 2023

Council of Europe report: Turkey fails to meet democratic electoral standards - Medya News

Council of Europe report: Turkey fails to meet democratic electoral standards The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) released an observation report criticising Turkey for failing to meet the fundamental principles of democratic electoral regulation during the recent presidential and parliamentary elections. The report highlights concerns over biased media coverage favouring the incumbent president, the systematic targeting of opposition parties and politicians, lack of transparency and gender inequality. More:Council of Europe report: Turkey fails to meet democratic electoral standards - Medya News

Friday, June 16, 2023

Turkish government accused of using blocking mayor's presidential run - The Jerusalem Post

Turkish government accused of using courts to block Istanbul mayor from presidential run The Turkish government is being accused of using criminal charges to try to prevent Istanbul’s mayor from becoming the president of the country or the head of his party. More:Turkish government accused of using blocking mayor's presidential run - The Jerusalem Post

Thursday, June 15, 2023

Istanbul's popular opposition mayor faces new corruption trial

Istanbul's popular opposition mayor faces new corruption trial Istanbul's popular opposition mayor went on trial Thursday on fresh corruption charges that could further cloud his hopes of succeeding President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. More:7 Istanbul's popular opposition mayor faces new corruption trial

Tuesday, June 13, 2023

Why the US cannot turn its back on Turkey | The Hill

Why the US cannot turn its back on Turkey BY DONALD KIRK, OPINION CONTRIBUTOR - 06/13/23 8:00 AM ET The reelection of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to a third five-year term as president of Turkey sends a stark warning to the United States and its NATO allies: Be careful in dealing with Turkey, which is sure to veer between friendship with Moscow and highly qualified support for Ukraine in its war with the Russians. More:Why the US cannot turn its back on Turkey | The Hill

Friday, June 09, 2023

Sweden charges Turkish citizen with financing outlawed Kurdish militant group

Sweden charges Turkish citizen with financing outlawed Kurdish militant group The case comes at a sensitive time in relations with Turkey, which is holding up Stockholm's application for Nato membership The man, who has not been named, is suspected of aggravated extortion, serious gun crime and attempting to fund terrorism. Getty Marwa Hassan Jun 09, 2023 Swedish prosecutors on Friday charged a Turkish citizen with gun crimes and raising money for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). More:Sweden charges Turkish citizen with financing outlawed Kurdish militant group

Why Turkey’s currency is crashing after Erdogan got reelected | KARK

Why Turkey’s currency is crashing after Erdogan got reelected by: SUZAN FRASER, Associated Press ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won reelection last month despite a battered economy and a cost-of-living crisis that experts say are exacerbated by his unconventional economic policies. More:Why Turkey’s currency is crashing after Erdogan got reelected | KARK

Thursday, June 08, 2023

Turkey: Wake up from your slumber

Turkey: Wake up from your slumber Thursday, 08 June 2023 | Bhopinder Singh Erdogan's juggernaut rolls on as ‘Kemal Gandhi’ and his secular approach and relatively non-divisive rhetoric does not sway the masses Moral template Mahatma Gandhi is not just undergoing a crisis of relevance in the land of his birth, but also in the distant land with which India had relations since the Vedic ages (Pre 1500 BC), i.e., ancient Anatolia or modern Turkey. Much later, Gandhi supported the Khilafat movement as a measure of anti-colonialism and expression of India’s Hindu-Muslim unity, and not as a religious matter. However, Gandhi subsequently insisted on realism for Indian Muslims when Mustapha Kemal Pasha (sobriquet of ‘Ataturk’ or Father of all Turks, came later) abolished the Caliphate. However, for a generation of Turks, Gandhi had become an inspirational and moral reference with principles of nonviolence (Ahimsa) and passive insistence (Satyagraha). More:Turkey: Wake up from your slumber

İmamoğlu publicly says radical change needed within CHP after election loss

İmamoğlu publicly says radical change needed within CHP after election loss CHP Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has publicly stated that a radical change is needed within his party following the election loss. Referring to the change of the Central Executive Board (MYK) members of the CHP, İmamoğlu said, “Change cannot happen with a single board.” The Mayor also hinted that he might take initiatives to lead the change within the CHP. More:İmamoğlu publicly says radical change needed within CHP after election loss

How the Turkish lira entered free fall under President Erdogan : The Indicator from Planet Money : NPR

More: Erdoganomics June 7, 20236:41 PM ET By  Wailin Wong Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at Cankaya Palace after he was sworn in as President in Parliament in Ankara on June 3, 2023. Adem Altan/AFP via Getty Images What happens when you throw the conventional economics textbook out the window? We turn to Turkey to find out. Inflation in Turkey is currently around 40%. Unlike in the U.S., where the Federal Reserve has been raising interest rates in an effort to bring down inflation, Turkey has done the exact opposite and actually lowered their interest rates. As a result, people are struggling to afford daily essentials, and the Turkish lira has sunk to record lows against the U.S. dollar. How the Turkish lira entered free fall under President Erdogan : The Indicator from Planet Money : NPR

Tuesday, June 06, 2023

Erdogan Will Decide Policy Despite Changes to Key Cabinet Positions, Analysts Say - The Media Line

Erdogan Will Decide Policy Despite Changes to Key Cabinet Positions, Analysts Say KRISTINA JOVANOVSKI 06/06/2023 While the reshuffled Turkish cabinet signals a hoped-for reset in foreign relations and economic recovery, Erdoğan's hold on policy decisions remains strong. More:Erdogan Will Decide Policy Despite Changes to Key Cabinet Positions, Analysts Say - The Media Line

Turkey’s Increasing Balance Sheet Risks | Council on Foreign Relations

Turkey’s Increasing Balance Sheet Risks Turkey is heading for a classic currency crisis.  All of its reserves and then some are borrowed. Blog Post by Brad W. Setser June 6, 2023 5:07 pm (EST) Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, appears to have secured his own reelection. He now has to find a way to avoid what appears to be an imminent financial crisis. More:Turkey’s Increasing Balance Sheet Risks | Council on Foreign Relations

Erdoğan’s Victory and Turkey’s Future - Foreign Policy Research Institute

A Nation Must Think Before it Acts Erdoğan’s Victory and Turkey’s FutureShare: Editor’s Note: FPRI is publishing a collection of essays analyzing Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s victory in the Turkish presidential election in May 2023. The articles examine the Kurdish role in the election and the extent to which anti-refugee rhetoric was normalized in the campaign. In addition, our authors delve into the future of Turkey’s Syria policy, Erdoğan’s command of the Turkish state, and what could happen after Erdoğan is (eventually) no longer in power.   On May 28, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan won re-election, the second such time he has defended himself for that office, the first since the presidency was granted immense new powers in 2017, and, for the first time, he succeeded in a runoff vote against an opposition that at once seemed more organized than ever and fatally flawed from the start. More:Erdoğan’s Victory and Turkey’s Future - Foreign Policy Research Institute

Turkey at a crossroads: Will it turn to the East or West?

Turkey at a crossroads: Will it turn to the East or West? Turkey celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2023. For centuries, Turkey has straddled two worlds – Europe and the Middle East. In the early 2000s, the country was hailed as a “model democracy” for Muslim-majority countries. However, Turkey was rated as “not free” by the Freedom House 20 years later a label it shares with Russia, China and Iran. With Recep Tayyip Erdogan securing a third term in office, what does this mean for the country? More:Turkey at a crossroads: Will it turn to the East or West?

Monday, June 05, 2023

Democracy in action: An American sees the Turkish election

Democracy in action: An American sees the Turkish election Bruce AndersonLedger Columnist It’s been six years since I’ve been in Turkey. Crete intervened, then the pandemic, then life, and it was high time I went back. The Presidential election runoff was in the works – but that antedated my planning, and the Turkey I wanted to see, and its politics, were those of about 3,000 years ago. More:Democracy in action: An American sees the Turkish election

Erdogan considering Erkan as Turkey cenbank chief, sources say

Erdogan considering Erkan as Turkey cenbank chief, sources say Erkan met with Mehmet Simsek, Turkey's newly-appointed treasury and finance minister, in Ankara on Monday Orhan Coskun, Reuters News June 5, 2023 TURKEYFINANCIAL SERVICES ANKARA - President Tayyip Erdogan is considering appointing Hafize Gaye Erkan, a senior finance executive in the United States, as governor of Turkey's central bank, according to two senior officials with knowledge of the matter. More:Erdogan considering Erkan as Turkey cenbank chief, sources say

Sunday, June 04, 2023

Turkey’s new finance chief announces return to ‘rational’ economics – POLITICO

Turkey’s new finance chief announces return to ‘rational’ economics Mehmet Şimşek’s appointment has been seen as a signal that Ankara could resume a more conventional economic policy. Turkey will have to dramatically change its economic policy in order to bring down rampant inflation, according to the country's newly appointed finance minister, Mehmet Şimşek. More:Turkey’s new finance chief announces return to ‘rational’ economics – POLITICO

Former Spymaster Hakan Fidan Assumes Leadership Of Turkey's Foreign Ministry

Former Spymaster Hakan Fidan Assumes Leadership Of Turkey's Foreign Ministry Guney Yildiz Jun 4, 2023,09:30am EDT Turkey's new Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stands as Turkey's President unveils the country's new ... [+]AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES Hakan Fidan, the former head of the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT), has been appointed as the country's new foreign minister. This shift isn't merely a bureaucratic reshuffle; it's a clarion call to every external stakeholder, from the U.S. to the European Union, from Russia to the labyrinthine politics of the Middle East. For years, his intelligence portfolio dictated his involvement in international affairs, shaping him as a significant figure in the nation's political landscape. However, the change in office is not just a transition from a follower of established procedures to a pioneer of original ideas. Fidan was already one of the most significant foreign policy actors in Turkey. More:Former Spymaster Hakan Fidan Assumes Leadership Of Turkey's Foreign Ministry

Turkey's Erdogan unveils new cabinet after inauguration

Turkey's Erdogan unveils new cabinet after inauguration Recep Tayyip Erdogan won the May 28 runoff against a powerful opposition coalition.(Photo by Yavuz Ozden/ dia images via Getty Images) Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday unveiled a new cabinet lineup, naming a powerful spy chief as foreign minister and market friendly Mehmet Simsek as finance minister, hours after swearing in for a third term as president. More:Turkey's Erdogan unveils new cabinet after inauguration

Saturday, June 03, 2023

In a post-election Turkey, the country remains divided on political lines · Global Voices

In a post-election Turkey, the country remains divided on political lines The unequal playing field gave the incumbent an unjustified advantage Written by Arzu Geybullayeva Posted 3 June 2023 19:21 GMT Showing up at a polling station, as one of the two presidential candidates, in a country-wide election with a pocket full of cash may not occur to leaders of democratic countries, but in Turkey, that is what the newly re-elected President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan did on May 28. The incumbent president was seen handing out TRY 200 banknotes (USD 10) to his supporters amid cheering and blessings. More:In a post-election Turkey, the country remains divided on political lines · Global Voices