Gezi Park events

Submitted by Nazim Cairo (France), Jun 4, 2013 at 14:52

İ am of two minds about situation in Turkey. On one hand I was and still supportive of a decade of incredible growth and prosperity delivered to the people of Turkey by AKP administration and charismatic leader Erdogan. I don't think it would have been possible to deliver this growth with fractious party politics of 1990s and by today's opposition parties.

I am extremely proud of AKP Turkey and its standing in the world and its role as a critical US ally and stalwart, despite a lot of shortcomings including pushing agenda. I much prefer AKP to left wing isolationist and tired ideologies.

However it is obvious that high handedness and hubris of Erdogan is costing the country a lot; during these 10 years he did not mature into a reasoned/quite politician, but became vindictive and dismissive of 49% who did not vote for him. What's more is that his divisiveness can arouse hitherto quite pious classes and clash of one side of the country with the other can bring Turkey down - we can just look at divisive nature of Egyptian politics to understand this problem.

I hope Turks can overcome this but I am doubtful about Erdogan's future and sincerely hope that he is not going to call his supporters to action. If he does we are ruined - at this moment millions of conservative people sitting in front of TV screens in frustration and anger. This should not be stocked. It is bad for the whole great nation of Turkey. You might wish Turkey to go down under with him at him at the helm, but I pray that Erdogan somehow is out of the picture. He will be a burden.

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