World leaders congratulate Turkey's Erdogan

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Written by northsouth

Category: Europe

Published: 29 May 2023

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ANKARA - Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy have joined world leaders in congratulating Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his election win.

In a letter to president Erdogan celebrating his narrow run-off victory on Sunday, Mr Putin addressed the Turkish leader as "Dear Friend" and praised his efforts at strengthening Russian-Turkish relations.

"From the bottom of my heart I wish you new successes in such a responsible activity as the head of state, as well as good health and well-being," he added.

Mr Zelensky also offered his congratulations to Mr Erdogan and spoke of the need for the "further strengthening" of Ukraine and Turkey's "strategic" partnership.

He was joined by Western leaders, such as Rishi Sunak, Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron, who took to Twitter to congratulate Mr Erdogan on his election win.

Turkey holds an important position in world politics, in part because of its geographical location as the junction between Europe and Asia - in particular the Middle East.

With Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Turkey also holds increasing importance as the gatekeeper to the Black Sea and has been central in negotiating crucial deals to maintain the export of Ukrainian grain.

Though a NATO country - and one which has in the past pushed for European Union membership - Turkey maintains diplomatic relations with Russia.

It is noteworthy to remember that Erdogan and the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres were instrumental in convincing Putin to allow for the resumption of Ukraine grain shipping to the rest of world otherwise we would have millions of people starving.

Voters in Turkey choose between Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu

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Written by northsouth

Category: Europe

Published: 28 May 2023

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By SUZAN FRASER and ZEYNEP BILGINSOY

ANKARA, Turkey — Voters in Turkey returned to the polls Sunday to decide whether the country’s longtime leader stretches his increasingly authoritarian rule into a third decade, or is unseated by a challenger who has promised to restore a more democratic society.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been at Turkey’s helm for 20 years, is favored to win a new five-year term in the second-round runoff, after coming just short of an outright victory in the first round on May 14.

The divisive populist finished four percentage points ahead of Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the candidate of a six-party alliance and leader of Turkey’s center-left main opposition party. Erdogan’s performance came despite crippling inflation and the effects of a devastating earthquake three months ago.

Speaking to reporters after casting his vote at a school in Istanbul, Erdogan noted that it’s the first presidential runoff election in Turkey’s history. He also praised the high voter turnout in the first round and said he expected participation to be high again on Sunday.

“I pray to God, that it (the election) will be beneficial for our country and nation,” he said.

Kilicdaroglu (pronounced KEH-lich-DAHR-OH-loo), a 74-year-old former bureaucrat, has described the runoff as a referendum on the country’s future.

“This election took place under very difficult circumstances, there was all sorts of slander and defamation,” Kilcdaroglu told reporters after casting his ballot. “But I trust in the common sense of the people. Democracy will come, freedom will come, people will be able to wander the streets and freely criticize politicians.” He voted at the same time as Erdogan as local television showed the rivals casting ballots on split screens.

More than 64 million people are eligible to cast ballots. The polls opened at 8 a.m.

Turkey does not have exit polls, but the preliminary results are expected to come within hours of the polls closing at 5 p.m.

The final decision could have implications far beyond Ankara, because Turkey stands at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, and it plays a key role in NATO.

Erdogan turned his country from a mostly inward-looking nation into a geopolitical player with a foothold in hotspots such as Syria and Libya.

His government vetoed Sweden’s bid to join NATO and purchased Russian missile-defense systems, which prompted the United States to oust Turkey from a U.S.-led fighter-jet project. But under Erdogan, Turkey also helped broker a crucial deal that allowed Ukrainian grain shipments and averted a global food crisis.

The May 14 election saw 87% turnout, and strong participation is expected again Sunday, reflecting voters’ devotion to elections in a country where freedom of expression and assembly have been suppressed.

In the mainly-Kurdish populated province of Diyarbakir — one of 11 regions that was hit by the Feb. 6 earthquake — 60-year-old retiree Mustafa Yesil said he voted for “change.”

“I’m not happy at all with the way this country is going. Let me be clear, if this current administration continues, I don’t see good things for the future,” he said. “I see that it will end badly — this administration has to change.”

But Mehmet Yurttas, an Erdogan supporter, disagreed.

“I believe that our homeland is at the peak, in a very good condition,” the 57-year-old shop owner said. “Our country’s trajectory is very good and it will continue being good.”

If he wins, Erdogan, 69, could remain in power until 2028. After three stints as prime minister and two as president, Erdogan is already Turkey’s longest-serving leader. A devout Muslim, he heads the conservative and religious Justice and Development Party, or AKP.

The first half of Erdogan’s tenure included reforms that allowed the country to begin talks to join the European Union, and economic growth that lifted many out of poverty. But he later moved to suppress freedoms and the media and concentrated more power in his hands, especially after a failed coup attempt that Turkey says was orchestrated by the U.S.-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen. The cleric denies involvement.

Erdogan transformed the presidency from a largely ceremonial role to a powerful office through a narrowly won 2017 referendum that scrapped Turkey’s parliamentary system of governance. He was the first directly elected president in 2014 and won the 2018 election that ushered in the executive presidency.

The May 14 election was the first that Erdogan did not win outright.

Critics blame Erdogan’s unconventional economic policies for skyrocketing inflation that has fueled a cost-of-living crisis. Many also faulted his government for the slow response to the earthquake that killed more than 50,000 people in Turkey.

Still, Erdogan has retained the backing of conservative voters who remain devoted to him for lifting Islam’s profile in the Turkey, which was founded on secular principles, and for raising the country’s influence in world politics.

In a bid to woo voters hit hard by inflation, he has increased wages and pensions and subsidized electricity and gas bills, while showcasing Turkey’s homegrown defense industry and infrastructure projects. He also centered his reelection campaign on a promise to rebuild quake-stricken areas, including constructing 319,000 homes within the year. Many see him as a source of stability.

Kilicdaroglu is a soft-mannered former civil servant who has led the pro-secular Republican People’s Party, or CHP, since 2010. He campaigned on promises to reverse Erdogan’s democratic backsliding, to restore the economy by reverting to more conventional policies, and to improve ties with the West.

In a frantic effort to reach out to nationalist voters in the runoff, Kilicdaroglu vowed to send back refugees and ruled out peace negotiations with Kurdish militants if he is elected.

Many in Turkey regard Syrian refugees who have been under Turkey’s temporary protection after fleeing the war in neighboring Syria as a burden on the country, and their repatriation became a key issue in the election.

Earlier in the week, Erdogan received the endorsement of the third-place candidate, nationalist politician Sinan Ogan, who garnered 5.2% of the votes and is no longer in the race. Meanwhile, a staunchly anti-migrant party that had supported Ogan’s candidacy, announced it would back Kilicdaroglu.

A defeat for Kilicdaroglu would add to a long list of electoral losses to Erdogan, and put pressure for him to step down as party chairman.

Erdogan’s AKP party and its allies retained a majority of seats in parliament following a legislative election that was also held on May 14. Parliamentary elections will not be repeated Sunday.

Erdogan’s party also dominated in the earthquake-hit region, winning 10 out of 11 provinces in an area that has traditionally supported the president. Erdogan came in ahead in the presidential race in eight of those provinces.

As in previous elections, Erdogan used state resources and his control of the media to reach voters.

Following the May 14 vote, international observers also pointed to the criminalization of dissemination of false information and online censorship as evidence that Erdogan had an “unjustified advantage.” They also said that strong turnout showed the resilience of Turkish democracy.

Erdogan and pro-government media portrayed Kilicdaroglu, who had received the backing of the country’s pro-Kurdish party, as colluding with “terrorists” and of supporting what they described as “deviant” LGBTQ rights.

Kilicdaroglu “receives his orders from Qandil,” Erdogan repeatedly said at recent campaign rallies, a reference to the mountains in Iraq where the leadership of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, is based.

“We receive our orders from God and the people,” he said.

The election was being held as the country marked the 100th anniversary of its establishment as a republic, following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.

Sunday also marks the 10th anniversary of the start of mass anti-government protests that broke out over plans to uproot trees in Istanbul’s Gezi Park, and turned into one of the most serious challenges to Erdogan’s government.

Erdogan’s response to the protests came as a harbinger of a crackdown on civil society and freedom of expression. Eight people, including philanthropist businessman Osman Kavala, architects, and a filmmaker have been convicted over their alleged involvement in the protests.

Lavish crowning for UK’s first new reigning monarch in 70 years

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Written by northsouth

Category: Europe

Published: 06 May 2023

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LONDON - British King Charles III has been crowned at Westminster Abbey in London, in a lavish ceremony not seen for seven decades.

The coronation is, at its heart, a religious ceremony, and Charles swore to defend the Church of England and to ensure that all sovereigns, himself included, are and will always be Protestant. But in a break from tradition, religious leaders from other faiths, including Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism and Judaism, played a prominent part in the proceedings — an effort to represent the diversity of modern, multicultural Britain as well as countries in the Commonwealth. Non-Christian leaders presented the less overtly religious items of regalia to the king ahead of the official coronation, and female clergy also played a more prominent role than in years past.

For the first time, members of the public were invited to take part in a “chorus of millions of voices.” The pledge of public allegiance to the king intended to replace the traditional Homage of the Peers, in which aristocrats and hereditary peers lined up in the abbey to kneel in front of the monarch and make vows of fealty. Though the invitation was meant as a democratizing gesture, it has drawn criticism on social media.

In another, less significant, update for the modern era, Charles and Camilla travelled to Westminster Abbey in the newer horse-drawn Diamond Jubilee State Coach, rather than the antique Gold State Coach, which, according to the BBC, even Queen Victoria complained was uncomfortable. They did, however, make their return in the older model, which resembled an even more gilded version of Cinderella’s carriage.

Tens of thousands of people packed the streets of London on Saturday to witness the once-in-a-generation event of King Charles III's coronation.

Britain's new monarch was greeted with a sea of red, white and blue as admirers waved Union Flags during the procession ceremony from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey.

However, not everyone was feeling so jubilant about the occasion, with the Metropolitan Police arresting a number of anti-monarchist protesters, confiscating a number of placards reading "Not my King".

Whatever your allegiance, Saturday 6 May was a rare moment in modern history – the UK's first coronation since 1953.

After years of family tensions, Prince Harry attended his father’s coronation alone. Harry’s wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, is staying at home in California with the couple’s children, Prince Archie, who turns 4 on Saturday, and 1-year-old Princess Lilibet. Relegated to the equivalent of the table at the far end of the room at a wedding reception, Harry was seated in the third row of the abbey, next to Jack Brooksbank, the husband of his cousin, Princess Eugenie.

Seated in the front row were Prince William, Charles’s heir, and his wife, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, wearing ornate formal robes to reflect their rank in the royal family. The king’s sister, Princess Anne, was similarly clad. Harry wore a regular gray morning suit, adorned with his military service medals. Prince Andrew, the disgraced second son of Queen Elizabeth II, wore ceremonial robes despite no longer being a working member of the royal family.

It was a moment Charles would have anticipated most of his life, and the first time Britain has crowned a monarch in 70 years.

The congregation at Westminster Abbey proclaimed "God Save the King" as Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby placed the St Edward's Crown on Charles’ head – symbolising his ascension to the throne.

International royalty, head of states and governments, British politicians and celebrities were also among the approximately 2,300 people in attendance at the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey. Among them were the American first lady, Jill Biden, and Ukraine’s first lady, Olena Zelenska, and former prime ministers Boris Johnson, Theresa May and Tony Blair. The current British prime minister, Rishi Sunak, gave a reading from the first chapter of the Epistle to the Colossians.

Prince William kisses the king

Britain's newly-crowned monarch looked emotional as his eldest son William, the Prince of Wales, kissed his cheek after his coronation.

Kneeling before his father in a tender moment, the heir apparent said: “I, William, Prince of Wales, pledge my loyalty to you and faith and truth I will bear unto you, as your liege man of life and limb. So help me God.”

The singers Lionel Richie and Katy Perry, the composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, and the actors Judi Dench and Emma Thompson were present. The guest list spoke to Charles’s efforts to embrace a modern, multicultural Britain, but also to the monarchy’s dynastic identity.

British fashion designers were some of the stars of the sartorial show. Ms. Perry, who is performing at the coronation concert on Sunday, wore bespoke Vivienne Westwood — a national treasure but an interesting choice given the late designer’s feelings about the monarchy.

One of the standout outfits was worn by 8-year-old Princess Charlotte, daughter of Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, whose white cape and dress and diamanté floral headband were all by Alexander McQueen, and made to match her mother’s dress and floral headpiece. McQueen, which is designed by Sarah Burton, also made Catherine’s wedding dress and often dresses her for major public occasions.

Camilla’s coronation dress, made of white silk and embroidered in gold and silver, with daisy chains, forget-me-nots and scarlet pimpernels to represent the love of the British countryside she and Charles share, was designed by Bruce Oldfield, one of her favorite designers (and also, as it happens, a favorite of Princess Diana). Her diamond necklace was the same one worn by Queen Elizabeth II for her coronation.

The London weather didn’t deter the crowds or the chants

Despite the rain, thousands of people lined the route, many waving Union Jack flags, as King Charles and Queen Camilla traveled from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey along the Mall. Their journey was accompanied by a new “coronation march” by the film composer Patrick Doyle, who said that it “at times reflects aspects of His Majesty’s own character.”

Not everyone in Britain was excited about the coronation, especially during a cost of living crisis that has left many Britons struggling. From staunch anti-monarchists to those who feel that the royal family is out of touch with modern Britain, many creative alternative events were planned to mark the occasion.

At protests along the Mall in central London, demonstrators chanted, “Not my king,” as some others shouted, “God save the king,” in response. Some protesters were arrested. The Metropolitan Police, Britain’s largest force, which covers the Greater London area, has faced criticism for deploying what some see as heavy-handed measures to police the coronation.

After the coronation, the procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace was greeted by cheering, if very soggy, crowds. Featuring 19 military bands and 4,000 troops, the parade stretched a mile from the palace gates. Chants of “God save the king!” erupted as Charles, Camilla and other members of the royal family appeared on the palace's balcony for a flyover of helicopters and the Red Arrows, the aerobatics team of the Royal Air Force, in a display pared back because of the quintessential British spring weather.

The king faces a test to sustain the mystique of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and keep the monarchy relevant in the modern era.

The Coronation of King Charles III

The British monarch acceded to the throne last September, after being the designated successor for longer than anyone in the history of the British crown.

- Walking a Tightrope: King Charles III is said to want a more accessible, forward-looking and inclusive monarchy. It’s not an easy message to convey through golden relics and ancient rituals.

- Why the Monarchy Persists: As long as there has been a monarchy, there have been questions about its legitimacy. But for many people, it is difficult to disentangle the royal family from British identity.

- The King’s Realms: Many of the former colonies that still formally swear allegiance to King Charles III are accelerating efforts to cut ties with the crown and demanding a deeper reckoning with its colonial history.

- Effect on the Economy: Caught between slow growth and high inflation, businesses are hoping that the coronation will increase consumer confidence. But will that be enough?

- Charles’s Love of the Arts: In King Charles III, Britain has its most culturally attuned monarch in generations. Here is a look at his interests and tastes.

- On the Menu: Move over, coronation chicken. Britain is celebrating the crowning of Charles with a new take on a traditional fish pie and a divisive vegetarian quiche.