Turkey's Tayyip Erdogan suffered a severe setback on Sunday as his ruling AK Party was set to lose control of the capital Ankara for the first time in a local election and he appeared to concede defeat in the country's largest city, Istanbul. Erdogan, who has dominated Turkish politics since coming to power 16 years ago and ruled his country with an ever tighter grip, campaigned relentlessly for two months ahead of Sunday's vote, which he described as a "matter of survival" for Turkey. But the president's daily rallies and near constant media coverage narrowly failed to win over the country's two main cities, as Turkey's economic downturn weighed heavily on voters. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/31/turkish-elections-turks-begin-voting-in-local-polls.html Defeat for Erdogan's Islamist-rooted party in Ankara was a significant blow for the president. Losing Istanbul, where he launched his political career and served as mayor in the 1990s, would be an even greater symbolic shock. Prase Allah
If they did go back to the middle ages you could rename Istanbul back to Constantinople and put it back into the hands of Greek Orthodox Christians.
Don't praise Allah so quickly. It might not be good news in the end regardless of who wins. Anyway the elections are being challenged in Istanbul and Ankara by Erdogan since they have found irregularities. Nationalist Party MHP Centrist Party CHP Islamist Party AK (Erdogan's) Pro Kurdish Party HDP Party
Just to give on an idea of the mind set of many Turks, I heard the head of the CHP condemn Erdogan once for not being aggressive enough in the Aegean and Cyprus, and yet the CHP is a centrist party. Any advance into the Aegean or Cyprus becomes a direct threat to Russia, and will blow up that part of the world - so let's not knock Erdogan. He says a lot, but he is cautious.
Erdogan has eliminated virtually all free press. He has unleashed an unprecedented crackdown on civil society and the military. Cautious? Erdogan said any Australians and New Zealanders traveling to Turkey with anti-Muslim sentiments would be sent back in coffins “like their grandfathers” were in the Gallipoli campaign. So, yes, let's knock Erdogan.
Certainly explains why he said what he said about Gallipoli, he must have known he was in trouble politically and sank as low as he believe he needed to go
Erdogan will not start a World War because he doesn't have Washington's support, and is dependent on Russia. You have no idea the things he has said, probably because it appeals to the Turkish people - as well as the claims he made in neighboring countries. Anyone else in his position might feel more secure with Washington and act rather than just talk the way he does. There's a lot going on in Syria and the gas rich territorial waters of the Aegean and Cyprus that people aren't aware of. It's a real flash point.
Pretty sure he doesn't have any Balls at all All the big mouth stuff is just a way to compensate for it. That sayd thats one leader that has to go.
But another leader might do something in the Aegean and Cyprus that will threaten Russia since so many in Turkey are clamoring for it - thanks to the rise in nationalism and the negative propaganda. Especially if that leader feels it has Washington's backing. There are a lot of problems in that part of the world, but not only in the E. Mediterranean and Aegean, but in the Balkans as well. Funny how the world changes, and yet nothing changes. Notice how all the adversaries whether it's in the Middle East, Near East, Caucasus, Eastern Europe, Balkans, etc., are at it again.
Mostly about resources as usual, but for Erdogan the loss of the oil and gas resources of Iraq and parts of the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa at the end of the Ottoman Empire must be quite painful.
The break up of the Ottoman Empire started with my 'heroic' paternal ancestors. The Ottomans retaliated for their rebellion in the Peloponnesus, by massacring my maternal ancestors and destroying the island of Chios. It was the richest place in all the Mediterranean and the atrocities aroused the European nobility, so they followed Lord Byron to Greece - and that included George Washington's nephew as well. The rest is history. When the massive fires broke out in the Peloponnesus about 10 years ago, and destroyed Greece's economy, I sensed Turkey was behind it, and that they wanted to start the restoration of the Ottoman Empire at the same place that began its downfall. I think it's a Muslim thing.
Islam is just now becoming = Nazi? Interesting... and this form people believing the worst religion on this planet - Christianity!
The funny thing is ... and a proof that Erdogan is simply a dictator ... that he threat not to acceot the results in Ankara and Istanbul, as well in East Turkey where Kurdish HDP won and that he would implement goiverment administrators instead!
Yes, herr Mandelus, Nazi. The nation is called Muslimhood. But it's not just me, take the words of this smart man for example.