Atilla's Musings

Meet Kemal Kilicdaroglu, Turkey’s long-derided opposition head who could dethrone Erdogan

Source:al Monitor Date:25Mar2023

The leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party, who will face off against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in presidential elections May 14, is a far more complex figure than

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Gonul Tol: Turkey’s ‘Gandhi’ sets his sights on strongman Erdoğan

Source:Politico Date:09Mar2023

An excellent background piece on the main opposition leader.  Also, Tol makes a very good point:  Does Turkey want another charismatic leader, who destroyed social peace and all the foundations

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Erdogan facing the rack

Source:eKathemerini Date:22Feb2023

I’ve added this to our website, because it  provides a rare glimpse into the foreign policy priorities of the Nation Alliance, Turkey’s main opposition camp:   During our

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Security fears rise in earthquake zone

Source:Reuters Date:12Feb2023

According to WHO, 23 mn people, including 1.4 million children may need permanent assistance as a result of earthquake damage and displacement.  Experts also warn that famine and disease await

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Murder of former Grey Wolves leader divides Turkey’s nationalists

Source:Al Monitor Date:05Feb2023

This article is about a week of old, but it covers two  much-neglected topics in Turkish politics:  The  return of political violence and tremors in Erdogan ally nationalist MHP, which might have

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Preamble – Summary of the Joint Policies Protocol by  the Nation Alliance—Part I

Date:31Jan2023

Translated  by Google Translate and Atilla Yesilada, annotations by Atilla Yesilada.  Excludes chapters on Sectoral Policies, Social Policy, Women and Family, Technology and Innovation.  It

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The Declaration by 6 party leaders after 26 January summit—full text

Date:26Jan2023

  Presidents of CHP, IYI Party (IYIP), Felicity Party (SP), DEVA Party, Future Party  (GP) and Democratic Party (DP) held the 11th meeting of Table of Six, the current moniker  of the six

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The Long Shadow of the Last Ottoman Sultan

Source:News Line Magazine Date:25Jan2023

I read breathlessly.  A concise summary of the main tension in Turkey today, the intellectual heritage, or ballast of one of the greatest Empires in history on  the new generation   The

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Political ban is ‘axe to democracy’, says Turkish opposition leader

Source:Financial Times Date:11Jan2023

A potential challenger for the Turkish presidency before a court ban last month threw his political future in doubt has said Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s party would “suffer a heavy defeat” for

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Table of Six 5 January Declaration–Full text

Date:08Jan2023

  As the presidents of six political parties, we came together on January 5, 2023, as we entered the 100th Anniversary of our Republic, hosted by the Future Party. We wish 2023 and the

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