Recep Tayyip Erdogan has won the Turkish presidential election over rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Millions cast their ballots in an election that extends Erdogan’s grip on power into a third decade.
In his victory speech, he mocked his rival, singing “Bye, bye Kemal” and accused him of embracing LGBTQ policies.
It’s safe to say his partners in NATO won’t be too happy with the outcome as Erdogan has been seen as an ally of Russian premier Putin.
Opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu is not well known outside Turkey, but to Western policy-makers, he had offered a tonic to the friction and frustrations generated by Mr Erdogan. He is a bureaucrat with a reputation as a clean politician and secularist who wants to restore Turkish-Western relations and trust with Nato allies.
So why would people vote for the increasingly authoritarian curmudgeon like Erdogan over the pro-West Kilicdaroglu? It seems that there are still people in the world who prefer a father-figure-type in charge. You could imagine Erdogan running Turkey like a family business: surly, shouting at his family members and employees but also strong enough to do what he thinks is best. Even if those around him disagree, he’ll demand they do as they’re told. Ultimately, he wants nothing but the best for his people.
Kilicdaroglu, as stated above, is a slick politician and bureaucrat; he’ll be the chairman or the CEO. Yes, he will smile and try and make everyone happy, like every good manager; under his leadership, the people of Turkey may find themselves more “free”, but ultimately he will see his fellow Turks as nothing more than an economic unit on a spreadsheet. It is also interesting to note that the heavily Kurdish south-eastern province didn’t bother to vote for him in the run-off after he attempted to appear more nationalistic in his rhetoric. He attempted a big tent or broad umbrella approach and lost.
You can’t be all things to all men. The Homeland Party knows this, and so does President Erdogan. That’s probably why he won.
