well suprise suprise

[andrew4232]

who would have thought that this would have happened lol

http://www.todayszaman.com/national_erd ... 55223.html

stand well back and see what he gets up to now !!

[Dalartokat]

Journalists beware.

[Owl Lady]

IMO God help everyone!!!

[danielle]

Shame on all the people who didn't bother to vote. I bet they weren't Erdoğan supporters and they could have helped to avoid this.

[owl]

Errr!

The International markets seem to like it. Lire gaining strength. Markets like stability!

Erdogan is a 'marmite' leader, a bit like Thatcher was. love 'em or hate 'em! You have to admit that during his 'reign', he has turned Turkey from a basket case into the 15th largest economy in the world and Turkey is now of major importance to the West and NATO, as well as the Arab world.
His efforts in achieving accord with the Turkish Kurds has been a welcome surprise. He has also taken in over 2m refugees from Syria, Iraq etc, mostly at personal cost to Turkey. I don't see any other country doing so much on a humanitarian basis, certainly not the largest, richest neighbouring Arab country, Saudi.

How many of you remember the days of 25% savings rates but the same days of 40% inflation and shortages???

Surely we don't want to go back there?

As was Thatcher, he is a divisive leader and still has many issues to resolve.

Personally I dread to think what would be happening if one of the other candidates had won!

Better the Devil you know?

[waddo]

But - As President he has no power!!! Then again, I suppose while he remains Prime Minister he can change the laws so that the next President (Oh yes, that would be him) has the same amount of power as the Prime Minister - then he could get rid of the Prime Minister post and carry on for another three terms!!!!

And they say that solicitors are sneaky - they are only in training to be politicians anyway....................

[owl]

Erdogan hasn't had any 'secret' agenda.
For the last year he has made it totally plain he wants to run for President to run Turkey on lines similar to the US or France, where the President can dictate the constitution with a PM as a 'day-to-day' political leader.
As we have seen with France, if there is any major crisis, the President can sack a PM. In the US, the President can sack the 'House Leader'.

Erdogan's a canny guy as he would not be able to run for PM again under the present constitution!

If not him,... who would folks have preferred? The 'nice' old gent?,.. or the young Kurdish Lawyer?

Does anyone know what their policies are/were? Any better or worse for the future of Turkey than Erdogan's?

Next month is Scotlands turn,.. yes or no? Anyone really know the manifesto's?
Next year the UK General Election,....... same question!

Or is it a case of people voting for who they think they like,.. or don't.

[iancrumpy]

Erdogan hasn't had any 'secret' agenda.

Well, if there is an agenda, it's likely to be less secretive from now on. With him and the AKP there, don't be surprised in the next few years to hear of, at least on the mainland, the end of co-ed education, the end of bar tables in the streets and possibly even the introduction of the Friday/Saturday weekend. Except perhaps for not having a drink on the tables around Istiklal Caddesi, none of those really concern me that much ... but I do hope that the more liberal-minded women of Turkey aren't made to feel uncomfortable for the way they dress.

[iancrumpy]

Re : "the end of co-ed education" - the Ministry-of-Education-run-summer-camps became single-sex a few years back ...

Re : "the end of bar tables in the streets" - along with other alcohol restrictions, this has aready started ...

[owl]

iancrumpy

Certainly those are social implications we all would like addressed.

But what does Turkey need?

A Leader who will hug and cuddle every Social Media Platform or critical journalist,..... or an accomplished Statesman who can attract $Bn's of inward investment for jobs and wealth creation.???

p.s In his 'welcome' speech today, he did address the 'Men & Women' of Turkey.

It reminds me of the 'Stones' record: 'You Can't Always Get What You Wan't'

[iancrumpy]

Certainly those are social implications we all would like addressed.

Erdoğan and the AKP are already addressing the problems of society ... *problems* as they see them ... and yes, somewhat unfortunately a majority of the electorate agree with them on this ...

An accomplished Statesman who can attract $Bn's of inward investment for jobs and wealth creation.?

The economy has indeed improved during the Erdoğan days, but it is debatable as to whether this would have happened regardless of the party in power - it probably had more to do with a bulge of youngsters joining the workforce.

"An accomplished statesman"? Again debatable ... only a few days ago he jokingly said that it was "ugly" to be called an Armenian With regards to his recent stance on Israel, I initially wholeheartedly supported him. However, him saying that Netanyahu had surpassed Hitler in the atrocities committed in Gaza, were again certainly not the words of a "statesman"

In my discussions with my TC friends and family, I normally in fact play devil's advocate, praising Erdoğan for stabilising the economy. However, as my in-laws would say, there are other factors to consider ... and yes, my biggest concern is for the more liberal-minded women of Turkey ...