Recep Tayyip Erdogan, his friendship with Putin and how he made Turkey a regional power with influence in Europe

Recep Tayyip Erdogan won the second round of the presidential elections on Sunday in Türkiye, a nation he has ruled for 20 years. He is the most influential leader of the Eurasian country after its founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

erdoğan69, will rule for five more years after beating opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu in the closest elections he has had to contest in two decades.

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He president he obtained 52.18% of the votes, against 47.82% for Kilicdaroglu, according to official figures from Turkey’s Supreme Electoral Council.

Results of the elections in Türkiye. (AP).

After knowing the results, erdoğan He thanked the nation for once again entrusting him with the Presidency. Tens of thousands of people gathered outside Ankara’s presidential palace to listen to him.

“There is no problem that we cannot solve,” he said. erdoğan.

Türkiye is facing skyrocketing inflation that has driven up the cost of living. In addition, it has the challenge of rebuilding entire cities after the devastating earthquake that killed more than 50,000 people at the beginning of February of this year.

“The only winner today is Türkiye,” he said. erdoğan. In his victory speech, he vowed to work hard for Turkey’s second century, which he called the “Turkish century.” The country celebrates its centenary this year, the AP agency remarked.

The re-elected President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (AP).

but how did he win erdoğan despite the economic crisis and the hardships of the population after the devastating earthquake?

The explanations of the analysts go through two pillars of his management: erdoğan retained the support of conservative voters who remain loyal to him for raising the profile of Islam in Türkiye, which was founded on secular principles; and for increasing the country’s influence in international politics. The paper of Türkiye It is relevant in global crises that go beyond its borders, such as those of refugees from conflicts like the Syrian one and, to a greater extent, the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Let’s go with the second aspect.

The political scientist Rasit Kaya told the EFE news agency that the role of erdoğan in the international arena it explains a large part of his victory on Sunday.

”The lower class, which mainly suffers from economic difficulties, buys his image as a world leader. They believe that Erdogan brought Turkey to where it is now, as one of the great powers of the world.achieving peace between Russia and Ukraine, not bowing to the United States and the West, and building a great military power with the advances in the defense industry”Rasit Kaya said.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s true or not, the sheer amount of pro-government media made them believe this”he adds in reference to the control of the information that the Government has, in a country where the freedom of the press and the number of independent and critical media are less and less.

A proof of the international leadership of erdoğan are the congratulations he received as soon as the results were known, ranging from the presidents of France, Emmanuel Macron; of USA, Joe Biden; he british prime minister, Rishi Sunak; until the representatives of RussiaVladimir Putin: and from UkraineVolodymyr Zelensky.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (left) meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), on October 13, 2022. (Photo : PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE OF TURKEY / AFP). (HANDOUT/)

“France and Türkiye have enormous challenges to face together. Return of peace to Europe, future of our Euro-Atlantic Alliance, Mediterranean Sea. With President Erdogan, whom I congratulate on his re-election, we will continue to move forward ”said Macron.

While putin described the “victory” of erdoğan as “a natural result of selfless work at the head of the Republic of Turkey, a clear proof of the Turkish people’s support” for Erdogan’s efforts “to strengthen state sovereignty and pursue an independent foreign policy.”

For his part, Zelensky said he hoped to strengthen ties with Türkiye. “We look forward to further strengthening the strategic partnership for the good of our countries, as well as strengthening cooperation for the security and stability of Europe.”

In the context of the war in Ukraine, Erdogan’s closeness to Putin has irritated Europe, NATO and the United States.

The fact that Türkiye be a member country of the NATO has not driven away erdoğan of putin. What’s more, I have acted as a judge in the war between Russia and Ukraine.

For example, him turkish president helped broker an agreement that opened a safe corridor for Ukraine’s grain exports across the Black Sea. And when Russia decided to end that agreement, erdoğan achieved that putin back off

He has set his conditions for Sweden and Finland join NATO. Finally, it approved the accession of the second country, while in the case of the second it maintains its veto.

A week ago, CNN interviewed erdoğan and asked him if he really believes that USA is trying to overthrow him, as he stated on May 13. The Turkish president avoided responding, but criticized President Joe Biden for seeing him as a “dictator.”

“How could someone who goes to a second round of elections instead of completing the election in the first round be a dictator? That is a reality. We have an alliance with 322 deputies in Parliament and the leader of this alliance is going to go to the second round in the first position, what kind of dictator is that?asked.

CNN also asked him if he will work with the Biden government. “Definitely. I will work with Mr. Biden. And if Biden leaves, I will also work with whoever replaces him, ”he replied.

erdoğan spoke about the military and financial aid that the West gives to Ukraine.

Said “The West is not leading a very balanced approach. A balanced approach is needed towards a country like Russia, which would have been a much more successful approach. For example, in the Black Sea Grain Corridor initiative we are not only considering the interests and needs of Western countries, but also those of African nations. This grain corridor initiative has been extended for another two months as of May 18. How do you think it was possible? It was possible thanks to our special relationship with President Putin.”

Source: Elcomercio