Beneath Turkey’s turmoil is a bitter battle between two wounded men | Fiachra Gibbons Recep Tayyip Erdoğan‘s abuse of power is being exposed by the equally intimidating exiled spiritual leader Fethullah Gülen Imagine for a moment you saw yourself as a “model for the world” like the Turkish prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who … Read more
Turkish-Armenian writer Nişanyan to be jailed on charges of illegal construction The Turkish-Armenian writer and linguist Sevan Nişanyan was expected to be jailed on Jan. 2 and serve a two year sentence Ombudsman’s Gezi report advises adoption of EU norms for mass protests The 8-article list of advice includes ascertaining the wrongdoing of … Read more
While continuing denial in graft probe, three members of the Turkish cabinet stated 3 different amounts [in Turkish] Turkey supposedly lost during the current crisis. Ali Babacan (L), Minister of Economy, 49 billion dollars , PM Erdoğan: 120 billion dollars, Efkan Ala, new Minister of Interior Affairs, 104 billion dollars. And none of them may actually … Read more
Turkey’s Erdogan and year of ‘foreign plot’ Erdogan uses might of state to quell unrest Turkey?s Economic Enemies: Corrupt Politicians and the U.S. Fed Turkey’s economy was already in a shaky place, thanks to decisions by the U.S. Federal Reserve that could make it harder for Ankara to sell its goods and borrow cash overseas. … Read more
Fethullah Gülen movement [FGM] is now the biggest school of Islamic circles that follow Said Nursi‘s teachings. FGM was known to support center right parties. With the collapse of center right in Turkey as AKP did rise to power, FGM and AKP allied to challenge their common enemy: Turkish Army. In the mean time, AKP … Read more
PM Erdoğan announces new Cabinet with 10 changes amid graft probe The Cabinet changes include the interior, economy, environment and EU ministers implicated in the graft probe that has shaken the government Turkish PM Erdoğan says those who target him through graft probe will not succeed The target of the probe is himself, PM Erdoğan said … Read more
Istanbul intelligence unit head called for deposition over allegations of leaking graft probe Istanbul?s public Prosecutor?s Office has summoned Intelligence Unit head Erdogan backs officials against bribery ?stain? Turkey prime minister blames foreign forces and the media for allegations of bribery against his government, accusing them of preparing ?a trap? to snare his ministers … Read more
Public institutions unable to provide financial statements: Turkish finance minister Public institutions were not able to provide balance sheets and financial statements in conformity with the format required by the Court of Accounts, Finance Minister Şimşek has said NGOs pressure Turkish government for ?urgent? election reform Turkey needs an immediate and scrutinized political … Read more
After Occupy Gezi, there comes the second blow… For the last 4 days, AKP’s plan to eliminate prep schools has been challenged in Twitter not by Gezi protesters but by Fethullah Gülen movement sympathizers. Private prep school network all over Turkey is one of the major recruitment hub for the Gülen movement (Cemaat). As the … Read more
Misunderstandings will be resolved through ?dialogue among brothers,? says PM Erdoğan Misunderstandings should be resolved through ?internal dialogue? within the ruling Justice and Development Party, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said ************ Erdoğan gets ready for a new Kurdish move Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is going to meet with Masoud Barzani Deputy … Read more
Since government’s delusional conservative politics do get domestic and global reactions, it now aims to use the “security” card. However, connections made are hard to hold logically, only the ideologically determined conservatives get them…. Mixed-student apartments home to terrorist and illegal organizations, interior minister says Muammer Güler brought another dimension to the debate on mixed-student housing, … Read more
Since most of the students are in vacation due to 9-day holiday and cannot resist, Ankara Municipality grasps the opportunity and starts to cut down the trees in order to build a highway. Despite an ongoing judiciary process, AKP’s Ankara Municipality is keen on having a-fait-accompli strike at the forest. A video from the scene: … Read more
European Commission understood AKP’s democratic potential capacity in its early years belatedly, and now it downplays the increasingly obvious authoritarian tendencies, a harsher critique will appear belatedly, I assume… Here are the documents in Turkish and in English… AB Komisyonu İlerleme Raporu – 2013 Turkiye Strategy Paper – COM 700 – EN final TURKEY … Read more
Latest scenario: One more term with President Gül President Abdullah Gül made very clear that nobody should dismiss him in predicting who will be the Çankaya Presidential Palace?s next tenant, who will be named in August 2014 elections. ************* Erdogan and Gul to hold crucial meeting Gul?s supporters suggest he is raring to return … Read more
Part 3 The talk of a different Turkey There was much hope vested in the new government of Turkey and its new charismatic Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan who previously as Istanbul?s mayor did much for the city?s development- enhanced water supply, cleared slums, tackled the environment issue and even planted thousands of trees. … Read more