ΓΕΡΜΑΝΟΣ ΠΡΩΗΝ ΠΡΕΣΒΗΣ ΣΤΗΝ ΤΟΥΡΚΙΑ
- 27 Apr 2023
- international
In an extensive interview with the Welt newspaper, Martin Erdmann, former German Ambassador to Turkey during the period 2015-2020, pointed to the "end of the Erdogan era regardless of the result of the elections on May 14".
Erdman described in his interview the paralysis of the state apparatus caused by the rule of the Turkish President. “President Erdogan has arrested tens of thousands of political opponents and centralized the media. He is responsible for a dysfunctional one-man rule. No one dares to make decisions anymore for fear of being held accountable for them. Nobody knows what Erdogan likes today and what he doesn't."
In fact, Erdman predicts that in case of defeat, Erdogan will be forced to leave the country for an unknown destination. "The question is whether he will resort to illegal means. For example, if he uses the army for a military coup. This is difficult to predict. I personally believe that in case of defeat, he would board a plane to an unknown destination," Erdmann told Welt.
According to the former Ambassadors, Erdogan cannot simply "retire". "His governance is characterized by corruption and nepotism. But the judiciary does not belong to him. Some remain silent and wait for Day X, when they will unravel the tangle of the Erdogan system. So he will do everything to win the election," explained Erdmann.
Dangerous allies
In order to remain in power, Erdoğan cannot be selective in choosing his allies, notes Gerd Heller in the RND Journalism Network, adding that the Turkish President does not hesitate to ally with those "who have links to terrorism".
Hüda Par, the Freedom Party, is considered the political arm of the Turkish Hezbollah. "The organization has committed several politically motivated murders since the 1990s, including those of feminist writer Koncha Kouris in 1999 and Ghafar Okan, the police chief of Diyarbakir," RND points out. He and five of his bodyguards were killed with automatic weapons by more than a dozen Hezbollah-linked assailants in January 2001.
Like Erdoğan's other extremist allies, the MHP party, Hüda Par will also expect trade-offs from Erdoğan, RND notes. “It calls for the repeal of Law 6284 which protects women and children from violence and abuse. It also supports gender segregation in schools and universities. He wants to introduce Islamic Sharia law, criminalize adultery and 'protect the integrity of the family' – a reference to what could happen to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Turkey if Erdogan wins re-election and he needs to show his appreciation to his new friends,” concludes RND.
