“Der Spiegel”: “Erdogan is the second Putin”
"The past eight years in government have distorted Recep Tayyib Erdogan's notions of the reality," writes the German "Der Spiegel" periodical's political commentator Oliver Trencamp as he analyzes the current political state and expected developments in Turkey after the elections. According to Trencamp, Prime Minister Erdogan believes that God has chosen him to lead Turkey and he imagines himself as the "Knight of Anatolia" with pleasure.
"Those criticizing Erdogan's administration like to mention the fact that Turkey is no longer in 138th place on the media freedom index released by Journalists without Borders organization, falling behind a country like Iraq. There are more Turkish journalists than prisoners in Communist China," writes Trencamp, recalling how the police brutally dispersed the latest opposition demonstrations.
"The brutality of security forces is not new in Turkey's history, but the pressures of the past months are picking up momentum. Human Rights Defender Gyulizar Tunger says the authorities hadn't shown such brutality since the military coup d'etat," says the "Spiegel" commentator. Touching upon the foreign policy led by Erdogan, Gul and Davutoglu, Trencamp mentions that the ruling "Justice and Development" Party has adopted Neo-Ottoman ideas and is trying to present itself as the potential "curator" and "leader" of the "post-Ottoman" region (Balkans, Near East, Arabic Africa, South Caucasus-ed.).
"But the "new" foreign policy that the government often speaks about is actually not new at all. Turkey is factually returning to its foreign policy based on its considerations. Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has proclaimed the slogan "zero problems with neighbors" as the main principle of his foreign policy, but the government has factually failed to solve the issue of Cyprus and hasn't opened its borders with Armenia. Turkey has worsened relations with Israel, and Erdogan's once friend Bashar Al-Asad recently revealed himself as a dishonest tyrant who executes his own population in Syria," writes the "Spiegel" commentator, citing the opinions of U.S. diplomats posted on WikiLeaks.
"It can't be said that Erdogan wants to turn Turkey into the second Saudi Arabia. However, the developments taking place in the country during his tenure are troubling-not because the country could become more religious, but because it could become more authoritarian. Erdogan is not the second Ahmadinezhad, but more like the second Putin," says Oliver Trencamp in closing.
