Erdogan used to cry about democracy to Europe and the West as the bad secular people are not giving chace to them. He became a dictator after he won. Now we are finding out that him and his grassroot organizations throught the country stole votes. In a leaked video of Erdogan with 2000 municipal leaders, he advised them take out the people who are against his party from the voter list. Now, it all makes sense. This guy has been so confident every election. Please keep in mind that it is really hard to come to power as one party without the coalition in a parlimentary system. They knew the results of every election because they knew they can manipulate any county they wanted. Like power going out in certain polling station for 6 hours and then blaming it on the cats.
What is scary is that if you put them in a corner and ask them if what they did was wrong and he would answer as, "we do everything in the name of God and religion so it is just." Hope he can no longer can steal elections.
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Ignorance of and contempt for science, circumvention and erosion of constitutional checks and balances, undermining a free press and an independent judiciary, manipulation of religious conservatism in order to amass personal power, mobilization of xenophobic anxieties, scapegoating vulnerable minorities, a monumental ego and authoritarian impulses. No wonder Trump likes Erdogan. And Putin. And Duterte. And Orban. And Salvini. And Xi. "Authoritarians of the World, Unite!"
19
Why does the NYT keep referring him as President of Turkey, as it is clearly Dictator Erdogan.
This is how a true dictator come into power: make any opposition to your rule punishable, fire judges, scholars and other key jobs to make you ruling over all others.
Erdogan is a dictator, as is Assad, Maduro, Putin, and Kim Jong-un.
And Trump envies them all.
16
Can’t figure out how to put it in there he reminds me of tromp or trump remind me of him
3
In the Long Run, what do we All have to lose, here ?
Is it "just" the Sea of Marmara, or the Black Sea, or the entire Sazlidere River Valley ?? No. It is more than that.
What if this is/was where YOU Live (??), and have raised your children, ran your Farm, or Business, for MANY years, and buried your grandparents, right Here?
In this over-populated World that we All live in nowadays, how few Open places ... how few "old" places on Earth, that have Open Country and good Water-sheds ... do we still have ?
Now, for a "Leader" to crush these few last places "out" in the name of "progress & prosperity" ... (for a chosen few), and yet he declines to comment on the more obvious and serious ramifications of this Canal's destruction ... ??
I have seen more than enough current EPA destruction of the American Landscape. It hurts me even more when that kind of Greed continues to destroy on a Global level.
May the People of Turkey LOVE their Land as they love their Children. May they Unite, and protect their Land, Heritage, and Homes from this looming, and damaging Project.
10
l am a 84 years old Turkish man came to State 1960 and be come a proud American, l was in Turkish army for 3 years, when Turkish Ambasodor died in early 50's they sand his body to Turkey with Missouri war ship, Turks saw American soldiers first time and they were well come to Turkey like kings l use to work for USO than and Istanbul was a local holiday because of those soldiers, Turks like American's Ataturk said religion and state must stay away from each other but ERDOGAN thinks he is a Ottoman Sultan and hiding under Muslim think he is making Turkey a second Pakistan he must go now for western world and Turk's future but Trump and Erdogan are singing the same song, l am very concern for our future, 1936 Europe was just like this than we know what happined , election in Turkey is a jock there are more than 300 newspaper and politions against ERDOGAN in jail
20
What else is new: when the cofounder of the PKA (recep’s) resigned and went to the opposition Republican wooo de do, it Must’ve meant there’s some big time corruption going on
2
I suspect the people Erdogan arrested and drove from public life were no more the friends of democracy than he is. People often feel that their enemies' enemies are their friends. It is not true. Neither Stalin nor Hitler were our friend. The Syrian rebels aren't our friends. Before World War II, the British and French had large empires where they subjugated millions of people around the world. Ataturk was one of the greatest leaders of the last century and it is sad to see his achievements being dismantled. It is time for Erdogan to go but it is not the United States' job to make it happen or decide who replaces him.
8
Is the Bosporus Strait inadequate for the volume of ships passing through connecting the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea.
5
When you say democracy is a tramway... that's means who is him!
1
Sounds a lot like Italy's Mussolini.
2
There is nothing wrong with ambitious infrastructure projects.
Projects like the Hoover Dam, Golden Gate Bridge, Panama Canal, etc. were great works built at high cost but nonetheless worth it. Erdogan will fade from memory but these great projects will last.
4
Of course, environmental consequences last longer.
9
For Erdogan the temptation to play a modern Constantine is irresistable. One knows that large construction consortiums exist in Turkey's economy that are the beneficiaries of Erdogan's ego. Perhaps we should be thankful that he doesn't emulate the Turks of centuries past and expand Turkey to include the former Ottoman Empire. Or did I just give him an idea?
5
I weep for Turkey. In the 80s and 90s it was a welcoming country with a tolerance once seen in the west.
6
This article shows Turkey is not considered a trusted ally of the US. However, Erdogan's political strategy follows the successful China/Russia's playbook i.e., huge infraestructure projects to prop up economic growth and social development.
A new global trade route -- led and financed by China -- is taking place in Asia, Europe, and Africa. Meanwhile, Donald Trump alienates the US from loyal proven allies and trading partners.
Does anyone remember the last time a major economic impact infrastructure project took place in the US?
16
We just do tax cuts for billionaires who flyover our crumbling infrastructure.
12
Yes, by god, the very successful, cheap and amazing High Speed Railway undertaken by Gov Moon Beam of California. If I remember correctly, the authorized history books will state for the future "that is was built ahead of schedule and way under budget."
The only thing this election will test is the ability of the Erdogan regime to dupe the masses into voting for a one-man rule, an open, unabashed dictatorship. Since he controls the media and judiciary, in addition to the executive and legislative branches of government, the eventual outcome is a given, although he may make it look like a close win.
22
All of these big projects appear to be nothing more than self-aggrandizement for Erdogan. Turkey's tourist industry is flat. I was there two years ago. No lines for the sights, empty restaurants begging for your business, and shuttered small hotels.
If this is progress I don't know how many Turks, at least those in Istanbul, are supporting themselves.
I have read that outside of Istanbul, in the rural areas, the average education level is middle school. So they probably support him. I don't think, although I could be wrong, that there is as much support among the educated.
Sound familiar?
22
I feel like I'm reading an article about the U.S. a few years into the future. I could see Trump tearing down the Lincoln Memorial to put up a giant hotel in his honor. I could see him building bridges and tunnels and canals we don't need so it'll enrich his billionaire friends. There isn't much now separating him from a dictator - certainly not any Republicans in Congress saying no.
36
His head on Mt. Rushmore too - but first have to remove the others to fit.
8
The past few years of Erdogan's rule are a textbook case for the importance of term limits. Even initially good leaders go astray when they're in power too long. This environmentally disastrous and unnecessary canal is one example, but Erdogan has also caused untold damage to the Turkish polity by his reaction to the coup attempt - if it reallly was a coup attempt. I've never heard of a coup that didn't start by arresting the leader! Erdogan's reaction has been to clamp down on civil liberties and fire thousands of people from the judiciary, public administration and even teaching jobs. Not the actions of a democrat. His time is up!
20
To his credit, Erdogan has modernized trains and roads and built housing to replace slums. But he has also killed foreign investment opportunities through his imperial behavior. The best career options for young people today are civil service and emigrating to Canada or the EU. In the long run, that economic model is not sustainable.
17
This election is NOT about mega projects.
This election is about either staying a democracy, when Erdogan looses, or a dictatorship of him.
The mega projects are just bait to catch the uninformed people.
Be carefull not to spread the bait.
53
I'm mystified. Is there any practical reason to use this redundant project, let alone to build it? It's like building an indoor ski slope in the Alps - and running the snow machines on kerosene generators.
28
Him and his friends make money.
10
There's always a long line of ships waiting to go through the Bosphorus. It's more like building a freeway parallel to a 2 lane road.
6
This is not about a practical solution for shipping congestion on the Bosporus. This is about real estate speculation along the route of the new canal. Prices for land in the area are already skyrocketing. Developers in alliance with the AKP stand to turn huge profits if the project goes forward. This has been there business model all along. Now they are taking it to a new level.
30
Its all about leaving a legacy and being remembered in history.
5
Yes, he will be remembered! He changed the chemistry of a whole nation. Just like we have changed since November the 9th 2016. He like the one in here is in war with everybody and everything. People are depressed.
3
Say what you say about Erdogan, but this man really understands the politics and the mood of the citizens.
4
Leadership needs to be more than figuring out where people are going and getting in front of them.
9
I wouldn't be so sure about that. Nobody dares to oppose very much. You'll be "detained" or imprisoned.
2
Erdogan has undermined Ataturk's vision for a secular democratic Turkey, and in addition to bearing the cost of Erdogan's silly projects, the economy is experiencing the restriction of its tourist sector. I am so happy that we saw Istanbul and other parts of Turkey before the crackdown. Most Western tour and cruise companies have cancelled their Istanbul and Turkey itineraries. A shame.
50
I hate to mention this Recep, but the Bosporus Strait already connects the Black Sea. Some people just like to dig ditches, I guess.
41
Have you ever looked at the magnitude of the traffic, including hazardous cargo, passing through the Bosphorus in close proximity to 10 million people? Have you ever looked at the statistics on the growth in traffic or size of ships, and the projections for future growth?
3
Please see a previous comment (that is before you made yours) about the Bosphorous being backed up… Kind a like the Panama Canal being backed up till it got its widening.
2
Intelligent people learn from the mistakes of others. Erdogan should learn from Trump the danger of idiotically incorrect economic theories. Trump should learn from Erdogan the value of infrastructure investments, when they are made correctly. What a wonderful world it would be.
8