No preconditions for coalition: Turkish PM Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has said the Justice and Development Party (AKP) is heading into the coalition government formation process with no preconditions nor prejudices. HDP open to coalition with unwilling AKP: co-chair Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Figen Yüksekdağ has said her party has not closed the door on … Read more
Turkey’s Erdogan, master tactician, seen angling for new election Reuters.com – Orhan Coskun – Jun 12, 8:12 AM – ANKARA President Tayyip Erdogan’s statesmanlike appeals for Turkey’s rival parties to leave egos aside and form a new government may suggest the combative leader has turned over a new leaf, but even those close to him … Read more
Erdogan, elections and the future of Turkish journalism AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (IN DEPTH) As Turks head to the polls, we look at the country’s media; plus, an interview with whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg. President Erdoğan slams HDP co-chair for avoiding call to offer condelences President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has criticizes Selahattin Demirtaş, co-chair of the Peoples’ Democratic Party … Read more
HDP co-chair mocks Erdoğan’s nationwide inaugurations Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş celebrated opening a soda can during his meeting with Turkish humorists and cartoonists in Istanbul, teasing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s successive inauguration meetings on the run up to the June 7 elections. Main opposition CHP’s election truck towed away in Erzurum An election campaign … Read more
Turkish PM defends Erdoğan’s public rallies, claims no constitutional restrictions President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s public rallies ahead of one of Turkey’s most important elections are “neither extraordinary nor abnormal,” Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has said, arguing that there are no constitutional restrictions preventing such meetings Four members of Turkey’s media watchdog criticize Erdoğan’s rallies Four members of … Read more
Workers’ protest, mayors’ boycott marrs Erdoğan’s speech Turkish President Erdoğan’s speech in a southeastern Turkish province was marred by a protest of workers and local mayors decision to boycott the presidential visit on May 2. Erkan Saka @sakaerka: This brave woman shows V sign to Erdoğan’s bus, bodyguards did beat and detain her. via @arahmangok Turkish PM, … Read more
Ankara’s trigger button: Armenian ‘genocide‘ As the centenary of the mass killings nears, Turkish officials will lambast anyone who dares uses the ‘G-word’. AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (IN DEPTH) / Turkey says it ‘shares’ Armenia pain …pectfully remember” deaths of Armenians in 1915 but stops short of recognising the killings as genocide BBC News | Europe … Read more
Turkey’s Kurdish peace bid ‘lost on way to printers’ Turkish PM Davutoğlu said two pages about the Kurdish peace bid were accidentally lost while his party’s electoral manifesto was being sent to the printing press, stirring fresh controversy with the HDP, which is focused on the Kurdish problem President Erdoğan chairs cabinet, with Ağrı incident and electorate … Read more
Turkish PM avoids highlighting peace process, Kurdish issue in manifesto meeting Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu remarkably shunned referring to the peace process led by his own government in the 100-article “2023 New Turkey Contract,” which he read out along with his Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) at party meeting on April 15 Elections are too important for … Read more
AKP suggests presidential system for Turkey in line with Erdoğan’s insistence Ruling AKP has vowed to change the country’s administrative system from a parliamentary to a presidential system Deputy PM cites ‘presidential system’ as safety valve against autocracy Describing the presidential system as an “antidote” to introduce an effective system of governance, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş … Read more
Turkey’s state-run TV refuses to air CHP ad ‘targeting gov’t’ The state-run Turkish Radio Television (TRT) has refused to air an election campaign advertisement by the main opposition party ‘because it directly targets the government,’ Turkish President Erdoğan promises police force full support President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has pledged full support to Turkey’s police force against any … Read more
Grup Yorum Musicians Detained in Okmeydanı Police Raid Bianet :: English Anti-Terror police stormed several apartments and offices early morning in Istanbul’s Okmeydanı neighborhood, detaining scores of individuals including musicians from the protest band Grup Yorum. Media Organizations Slam Accreditation Censorship on Prosecutor Funeral Bianet :: English Journalists Society of Turkey and Press Council of Turkey criticized … Read more
Turkey: Draconian reforms give police wide-ranging powers to repress dissent Amnesty International – Mar 27, 3:53 PM – Photo: Riot police confront a protester at Istiklal street near Taksim square in Istanbul, on 15 June 2013. © OZAN KOSE/AFP/Getty Images A range of security reforms in a bill passed by Turkey’s Parliament today will give … Read more
Turkey’s GDP to rise to $25,000 under presidential system: Erdoğan Turkey’s current $11,000 GDP per capita will rise to $25,000 by 2023 if the country swiftly adopts the presidential system, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said Erdoğan plan for super-presidency puts Turkey’s democracy at stake World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk by Simon Tisdall The Turkish president’s attempted … Read more
Shaking hands with Assad ‘the same as with Hitler,’ Turkish PM tells in response to Kerry Turkish PM Davutoğlu rubbished suggestions that talks should be held with al-Assad, saying negotiating with the Syrian leader was no different to shaking hands with Adolf Hitler Turkish Prime Ministry spends almost half of yearly budget in two months Prime Ministry … Read more