Erdogan blasts former friends as traitors while word of new rival spreads

Source:al Monitor Date:04Mar2019

Indeed, Turkish press is giving more space to rumors of a new party by erstwhile allies of Erdogan, as this excellent article by Mrs Amberin Zaman explains.   The challengers  may be waiting for the results of 31 March elections to pounce, claim some pundits.  Yet, Mr Fehmi Gultekin’s conclusion, cited by Zaman at the  end of the article that a new party will fail, is premature.   Mr Gultekin should recall that despite Bahceli’s aid, the media and the judiciary Erdogan could not get rid of Mrs aksener, chairwomon of IYIP, who has become a household name in Turkish politics.

In Turkey, a politician is as good as her last victory.