Revisted: Erdogan Latest Attack on Democracy
- Tim Boatswain
- Mar 23
- 2 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
At the end of my blog, I asked a question: Which democratic politicians are going to challenge his behaviour?.
I have just come across this article Inaction from Brussels over the arrest of an opposition leader in Turkey may be a strategic mistake, which partially answers my question:
I have consistently argued that the Turkish President, Erdogan behaves like a Dictator: https://timboatswain.wixsite.com/website/post/erdogan-behaves-like-a-dictator
He has pushed Turkey towards authoritarianism. The key factors are:
Increased centralisation of power in the presidency.
Restrictions on freedom of the press and expression.
Actions taken against political opponents.
Politicizing the judicial system.
The recent move of a Turkish court to formally arrest Ekrem İmamoğlu, along with 94 others from his party, on corruption charges is widely seen as politically charged. İmamoğlu, the popular Mayor of Istanbul, is recognised as a significant challenger to Erdoğan in the next Presidential election. This arrest, stemming from a recent residential raid, ignited substantial street protests and fuelled anxieties regarding Turkey's politics. The timing of the arrest, just as the main opposition party began its presidential primary, where İmamoğlu was a frontrunner, reinforces suspicions of Erdogan’s attempt to remove him from the 2028 Presidential race.
Erdogan is politically very manipulative and has seized the time when the West is preoccupied with the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East to make his move against İmamoğlu. Turkey has, after the USA, the largest standing army in NATO and, therefore, has a big card to play in NATO's overall defence capabilities. Its strategic geographical location further amplifies its importance within the alliance. It appears Erdogan thought, this was a good time to consolidate his dictatorship. Which democratic politicians are going to challenge his behaviour?
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