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economy to the mix, it is clear that Erdogan’s fortunes are sinking at a worrying rate for him at present, but he is not giving up. For instance, this week has seen him once more spouting angry rhetoric in the direction of Imamoglu (whose shock win in the original Istanbul election was annulled on a split vote by election officials who came under pressure from the Erdogan camp to address “irregularities”) after a period of uncharacterically playing it aloof. The theory in circulation for the change is that pollsters advised him that his strategy of near silence was not working with voters. His current campaign appears to be in complete chaos. He is full of aggression while at the same time he is trying to strike some last-minute deals with any political leaders or other influential figures that might swing some votes for the revote candidate of AKP, ex-PM Binali Yildirim, who lost to Imamoglu in the first poll. However, Erdogan has nothing new to tell voters. He has merely put forward some nonsensical accusations such as Imamoglu “called the governor of Ordu a dog” or “Imamoglu has used tactics of the terrorist organisation FETO that attempted the 2016 coup”. Claims that Imamoglu has Greek roots and is in partnership with the PKK appear to have been left by the wayside. Erdogan has also been meeting with some old allies from his former party. But prior to the March local elections he had even accused these same people of partnering with the PKK. Turkey’s populist authoritarian leader of 17 years has, it seems, by now almost literally attacked every social and political segment one might think of. But plans to draw some support from such attacks have dramatically failed one by one.
Some 90% or more of Turkey’s media is pro-Erdogan, making it difficult for opposition voices to make themselves heard. Not unexpectedly, Imamoglu is facing some vicious trolling on social media and intense personal attacks mounted by newspapers. The Erdogan press has lately backed an AKP strategy to discredit Imamoglu by claiming his candidacy is being supported by Turkey’s long-time arch-enemy Greece because Imamoglu is secretly Greek and by extension, Christian. The claim is based on Imamoglu's roots in Trabzon, a province on the Black Sea ruled in ancient times by Persians and Greeks. AKP deputy chair Nurettin Canikli spoke out on the matter, saying: “The Greeks are saying Ekrem Imamoglu is Greek. There are many questions and doubts. You should prove that your spirit, heart and mind are with the Turkish nation.” But, Al Monitor reported, the AKP’s efforts to stir nationalist passions have had a boomerang effect. Imamoglu was given a hero’s welcome in Trabzon on June 5 as a sea of locals flocked to welcome him and hear him speak. The AKP had not reckoned with millions of voters from the region feeling personally affronted by the claims.
15 civil society figures went on trial on June 24 accused of trying to overthrow then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government in the summer of 2013 by orchestrating the “Gezi” nationwide protests. The Gezi demonstrations were kindled by a protest against the redevelopment of an Istanbul park which activists said should be preserved given the city’s dearth of green space. Erdogan refuted the idea that the protests were motivated by environmental concern. The demonstrators, he said, were out to bring down his government.
Since the attempted coup of July 16, tens of thousands of people have been arrested and jailed in Turkey for alleged links to the Gulenist organisation the government claims orchestrated the failed putsch. Erdogan has been accused of using the crackdown to neutralise opponents across the country. His administration defends the arrests as a matter of paramount national security.
Bloomberg reporters face jail for story on Turkish lira crisis. US-based Bloomberg news agency says Turkish prosecutors are seeking jail terms of up to five years for two of its Istanbul-based reporters over their reporting on last year's currency crisis, The Associated Press reported on June 14. According to Bloomberg, Kerim Karakaya and Fercan Yalinkilic have been accused of attempting to undermine Turkey's economic stability with a story they wrote in August 2018. It added that prosecutors have charged 36 others for social
11 TURKEY Country Report July 2019 www.intellinews.com