On the international stage, he stabs the hornet’s nest whenever it suits him. In his own country he has to fight to stay in power for the first time: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
“Erdoğan is currently positioning himself for the elections, resorting to a recipe that has served him more than once in his career: stirring up trouble on the international stage to create a nationalist mood in the country and thus unite his constituents behind him “, says the Middle East correspondent of “stern”, Jonas Breng, in the 454th episode “important today”.
“He stokes the fire as it benefits him”
He is negotiating with Russia and Ukraine, waging war in Syria, threatening Greece and has been blocking the admission of Sweden and Finland to NATO for months – “He’s stoking the fire that benefits him – in the Kurdish regions of Turkey, in Syria too in Germany”, writes Jonas Breng in his cover story “Der Brandstifter”. His portrayal of the president caused a scandal in the Turkish press. “Scandalous” is the headline, the “stern” was accused of an “international conspiracy” – they wanted to influence the elections. And that’s the crux of the matter: while Erdoğan is successfully igniting world politics, for the first time he really has something to lose in his own country. “At the moment it’s about being re-elected by any means necessary. He has his hands full,” says Jonas Breng in the podcast.
The opposition is forming: “Erdoğan is killing political opponents”
“Erdoğan is killing political opponents.” Jonas Breng says that he has taken Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu out of the race as a promising opponent in court proceedings. Journalists are still being persecuted and members of the opposition live dangerously. And yet the elections in May will not be easy for Erdoğan: The economic crisis, inflation and resistance to more than four million Syrian refugees in the country, which is now stirring from nationalist circles, are jeopardizing his re-election. In addition, an alliance of six has formed in the opposition, consisting of completely heterogeneous parties, ranging from the “hard right” to the Social Democrats, explains Jonas Breng. “In principle, this alliance is only held together by the idea that the eternal Sultan can fall.”
Erdoğan remains a “identification figure” for his supporters. His climber story, from a boy from a humble background to this insane political career, particularly impresses those who have a harder time. “And Erdoğan did a great job in Turkey in his early years,” says Jonas Breng. He tripled gross domestic product between 2001 and 2013, improved the health system and infrastructure, but above all he put Turkey on the map in terms of foreign policy. “That has made many Turks very proud in recent years.”
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The Turkish humor cannon
“The strong statesman”: Erdoğan is forcing a nationalist mood in Turkey
The economic crisis has changed his starting position, and there is a lot at stake in the elections. That’s why Erdoğan has to force a nationalist mood in Turkey, says Jonas Breng. “He’s emerging as a strong statesman in Turkey who doesn’t accept anything from ‘those out there’ and gets the best out of Turkey.” That’s something that’s particularly popular with people with less high incomes and less education. “Erdoğan is incredibly good at staging his foreign policy, he has shown himself to be very flexible on the international stage.”
With a view to the coming months, Jonas Breng is certain: “A lot will happen, a lot of hustle and bustle, big words and one or the other escalation”, because it is precisely this chaos that he has used in the past to present himself as a strong man. At the same time, many in Turkey are concerned about what could happen if Erdoğan were to lose the election: “Will he hand over power without a fight?”
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Source: Stern
David William is a talented author who has made a name for himself in the world of writing. He is a professional author who writes on a wide range of topics, from general interest to opinion news. David is currently working as a writer at 24 hours worlds where he brings his unique perspective and in-depth research to his articles, making them both informative and engaging.
