Turkey's Erdogan, master campaigner, faces toughest contest yet

Let's hope this dictator is shown the door.

Erdogan helped unite Arab World along with China, Suni and Shia peace reproachment, thank you & President Xi!

Best news for Global Peace this Century, China leading as Mid-East & Turkey PIVOT to China. Seems Mid-East had their fill of US NATO Wars and that includes Turkey!

Erdogan also busy as are many other leaders, moving away from the $, crazy money printing, his people are tired of $ inflation, as is the world. Chinese Yuan - Good!

Erdogan none too happy about Western efforts to destabilize their Democracy, major campaign trail talking point, when meeting Arab leaders, President Xi, etc.

Embarrassing State Democratic Disruption by 'Friends'

Erdogan none too happy about Western efforts to destabilize their Democracy

By which "Clay" means "interrupt Erdogan's efforts to rig the vote in his favor in case he loses."

It's a rumor but word has it Erdogan told NATO Officials in not so many words, if were not in NATO, we'll EASILY find another security alliance partner or even several!

Analysts believe it references his growing relations with China, improved relations across Mid-East and long-standing relations with Russia etc.

Seems he enjoys optionality - smart!

Yeah, China would be a GREAT partner from thousands of miles away with no land link.

The Russians? You gotta warn us before you tell a good joke. I almost spit my coffee.

Yeah, Erdogan has all kinds of "options". All bad.

Why don't you mention Iran or North Korea as possible treaty allies while you are at it?

It's called the silk road, prosperity and riches, not endless wars like US NATO War Machine and Central Bank endless money printing, turning the page!

"Whether he barely wins or not, I feel like the Erdogan era is over. Turkish society is ready to move on."

Yeah thats definitely some "feels", because if he wins the vote, nothing changes.

But we can tell who liberal media is hoping for, its quite obvious.

He should partner his country with whoever he wants to if he wins the election.

the USA and Ukraine are supposedly partners.

thousands of miles away, with no land link.

Hmmm.

It's a rumor but word has it Erdogan told NATO Officials in not so many words, if were not in NATO, we'll EASILY find another security alliance partner or even several!

Analysts believe it references his growing relations with China, improved relations across Mid-East and long-standing relations with Russia etc.

Seems he enjoys optionality - smart!

Let me guess, they’ll develop a currency alternative which will make the dollar redundant. Sure, that’s worked before.

Erdogan lives in an 1150-room White Palace while his people were made homeless by the terrible earthquake.

That fact alone speaks volumes about him.

Net worth $500 million.

And if anyone were to get divorce anyone, it would be NATO filing the papers. Turkey is not a reliable allie and is plainly more trouble than it is worth.

Fortunately for Erdogan, there is no mechanism to tell a recalcitrant member turning its back on democratic norms to "take a walk."

Maybe there should be.

He’s a wicked man who hates freedom and lacks kindness and empathy. He needs to go for the good if the pope land the whole region

He sacked the teachers and imprisoned the professors.

2500 institutions targeted, 30 thousand teachers dismissed.

If Erdogan wins it is because he cripple the opposition.

2500 institutions targeted, 30 thousand teachers dismissed.

If Erdogan wins it is because he cripple the opposition.

The “opposition” cant vote?

If he did that to me I would certainly be voting for the other person.

1.5 billion Suni and Shia Arab Muslims globally celebrate Erdogan and his leadership along with President Xi to broker Mid-East Peace Reproachment!

Need more leadership like Erdogan bringing people together & peace, NOT opposite, destabilization & War, especially dangerous Proxy Wars with Nuclear Powers!

1.5 billion Suni and Shia Arab Muslims globally celebrate Erdogan and his leadership along with President Xi to broker Mid-East Peace Reproachment!

Too bad they can’t vote for him. Because otherwise that “statement” (snigger) and 350 yen will get you a small coffee at Starbucks.

TaiwanIsNotChinaMay 12  04:04 pm JST

Let's hope this dictator is shown the door.

I saw online about 10 years ago a coup attempt, and the plotters were even worse. Still, Erdogan's biggest challenge and toughest contest is proving his legitamacy and validity because he has shown not to have any at all.

I think with all the news about Turkey this past year people that had little knowledge about Turkey thinks they are some kind of world leading country. Sure they have a big army, and sure they have an important strategic location but they have the GDP of the Netherlands and things are just getting worse for them.

I have a Turkish friend who is so scare at posting anything on Facebook because Ordagans thought police will get him and that's Three years ago.

He's a bad boy but bad boys are in vogue

But we can tell who liberal media is hoping for, its quite obvious.

If you were a patriot, you would be asking yourself why you are always siding with dictators and thugs.

The “opposition” cant vote?

Opposition politicians are frequently charged with "terrorism" for their opposition view, which results in them being barred from politics and frequently jailed. Whole political parties are declared illegal terrorist organizations and their leaders arrested. Example, the mayor of Istanbul was the most popular opposition figure in Turkiye and the most likely to run against him. However he and 500 members of his party in the Istanbul government were convicted of "insulting a public official" (speaking your mind in Turkiye is not protected free speech as we understand it). and barred from running for office.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/12/14/turkish-court-sentences-istanbul-mayor-to-jail-time

Here is an example of how the Kurds in Turkiye are routinely denied a voice in their nation.

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-arrested-counter-terror-operation

Another example of how the ruling CHP uses the police and courts to silence political opposition.

https://www.newarab.com/news/turkish-opposition-politician-trial-accused-espionage

I cannot find the article on the threat made to some 500 Istanbul officials but I recall it revolved around a move by the city government to cease the use of a public building owned by the city for AKP (Erdogan's party) events when the building was in a park and intended for public use. The public was being crowded out by AKP events that were not scheduled with the city. The central government ended up seizing the land from the city and threatening members of the city government with prosecution for "terrorism" and other charges.

But here is another example of how one is not free to express an opinion contrary to the AKP party line in Turkiye.

https://sendika.org/2020/01/being-against-building-the-istanbul-canal-on-the-phone-is-illegal-in-turkey-575207/

It is characteristic of Sultan Erdogan from the quote in the article where there was a debate on the necessity of this canal in their legislature his reply to the debate was “Whether you like it or not, I will build the canal.”

Erdogan has been president for 20 years but all presidents should be limited to two terms only.

If you were a patriot, you would be asking yourself why you are always siding with dictators and thugs.

He is like a cousin of mine who once said "if you are not Christian how can you be a loyal American?" She said that I believe in all sincerity unaware that her cousin is not himself even a tiny bit Christian. She the grossly overweight welfare queen who made her money from the state baby sitting her daughters four illegitimate kids from two different married men, and me the military officer, college grad and business owner. My taxes are paying for her, um, lifestyle but I can't be trusted to be patriotic.

I hope Erdogan is goosed.

Erdogan is the dictator so many other world leaders aspire to be. If only!!