Erdogan: A new Turkish era?
Recep Erdogan hails a new era for Turkey after resounding win in country’s first ever Presidential election.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has won a sweeping victory in Turkey’s presidential election.
He told cheering supporters at his Justice and Development Party’s Ankara headquarters: “Without a doubt, new Turkey, great Turkey, leading Turkey has won today. We are closing the doors on one era, and we are now taking our first step to a new phase.”
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After 12 years as prime minister, Erdogan will now move into the presidential palace, which once belonged to the country’s founder Mustafa Kema Ataturk.
His supporters say that the election has given him a mandate to take a more active role in politics than previous presidents, who were chosen by parliament.
But if Erdogan has proven his popularity, he is also a polarising figure and the opposition fear his presidency will see a rise in authoritarianism with fewer checks and balances on the power of the state.
On Inside Story, we discuss the challenges that lie ahead.
Presenter: Martine Dennis
Guests:
Fadi Hakura – a Turkey specialist at Chatham House, in London.
Ercan Akkaya – a trade union organiser and former Gezi Park protester, in Istanbul
Galip Dalay – a political researcher at the SETA Foundation, in Ankara, and the editor of Insight Turkey
Published On 12 Aug 2014