EGF Turkey File, 1 March — 15 March 2014

Insights into Turkish Domestic and International Politics

1 March — 15 March 2014

By John VanPool, EGF Turkey and Black Sea Regional Analyst

Key Points:

• The death of another Gezi Park protester sends opposition protesters into the streets two weeks ahead of municipal elections.
• While the AKP has been hampered over the last year, polls indicate little change from past election results as opposition candidates lack the star power to counter the AKP"s leadership.
• Fethullah Gulen blasts the ruling government in an op-ed, calling its authoritarian tactics a challenge for Turkish democracy.
• The AKP-Gulen Movement split causes further mistrust between Washington and Ankara, as the White House openly rebukes Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan for mischaracterizing a discussion with President Barack Obama.
• Crimea secedes from Ukraine, though its Tatars sit out the referendum. Aside from expressing concern about their plight, Ankara has little leverage over their fate in the new Crimean Republic.