GermanyThe article discusses the ongoing authoritarian consolidation under Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, tracing its roots back to the failed 2016 coup attempt. It argues that while Erdoğan initially claimed the coup was a 'gift from God,' he used the event to eliminate political opponents, purge institutions, and centralize power. The piece highlights the erosion of democratic norms, including mass arrests, purges of civil society, and the implementation of a presidential system that granted Erdoğan unchecked authority. Despite economic decline and rising corruption, Erdoğan managed to win re-election in 2024, though his ruling party lost some ground in local elections. The article suggests that the fight against democracy continues through legal mechanisms targeting the opposition.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames Erdoğan’s consolidation of power as a continuation of an anti-democratic campaign, emphasizing the suppression of dissent, institutional purges, and the undermining of democratic structures. While it acknowledges Erdoğan’s political survival, it does so within a narrative that equ
