IT is unfortunate that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan should follow the example of many other leaders in modern history to combine populism with strong authoritarian tendencies.
On Friday, the Turkish government virtually seized the popular opposition daily Zaman by appointing state administrators to run the paper following a court order. Zaman and its sister publications, including one in English, belong to Fethullah Gulen, who Mr Erdogan once admired but who he now considers his bête noire.
Not just that, the editor and Ankara bureau chief of the country’s most prestigious daily, Cumhuriyet, that doesn’t belong to the Gulen group, were arrested last November for publishing a story that claimed the government was supplying arms to anti-regime dissidents in Syria.
The action against Cumhuriyet came in the wake of Mr Erodgan’s electoral triumph when his AKP won a majority in parliament.
But, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 2015 was the worst year for the media when the government arrested 15 journalists on various charges, including insulting the president. Overall, some 1,800 have been booked for insulting the president, and they include journalists, university professors, a student and a former Miss Turkey.
What adds to the opposition’s fear is Mr Erdogan’s proposal to change the present parliamentary constitution into a presidential form, and enact laws by decree, appointing and dismissing cabinet ministers.
Take a look: Turkish authorities seize control of newspaper
His supporters say that the proposed constitution would provide a balance in the powers of the president and the prime minister, both to be elected directly. But the opposition and Turkey’s vibrant media see a bleak future for Turkish democracy if Mr Erdogan arms himself with sweeping powers.
That a leader who has given Turkey stability, raised its per capita income and made it the world’s 15th biggest economy should suffer from paranoia is indeed a tragedy as much for the country as for himself.
Mr Erdogan should draw heart from his achievements and show a spirit of tolerance and accommodation instead of hounding the opposition, the judiciary and the media.
Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2016
