Let me write once and for all why Erdogan's AKP is so popular in Turkey. Erdogan has improved Turkey in all aspects from economy to human rights. Yes, human rights and freedom as well. Let me go through some of his successes.

1. it is an undeniable fact that AKP has radically transformed the healthcare system. An unprecedented change has taken place in the service quality of hospitals. This is a major contribution by this government.

2. After the crippling 2001 economic crises in Turkey, Turkish economy has been stable for so many years thanks to Erdogan's smart policy.
In 2002-- GDP was 230 billion dollars
In 2013 GDP is 796 billion dollars

3. The share of education in the budget.
2002-- 9.5 % (Before AKP)
2013 -- 18% (Now)

4. The number of airports in Turkey:
before AKP-- 25 airports (in 80 years TR history)
Now, there are 52 airports.
That means AKP has built 27 airports just in 10 years.

5. The size of divided roads in Turkey
Before AKP: 6000 km (in 80 years)
AKP built 15 000 km (in 10 years)

6. Before AKP Turkey borrowed $23,5 billion from IMF
Now, All the debt is paid back.

7. Before AKP, zero high speed train.
Now, many big cities have or will have high speed trains quite soon.

8. In 2001 economic crises, 25 banks went bust. ($47 billion lost)
No bank has gone bust for 10 years.

9. Before AKP, No Kurdish TV channel. Kurdish was totally banned in public sphere.
Now, several Kurdish TV channels including one state owned 7/24.
Moreover, Kurdish language programs at universities.

10. Before Erdogan, minorities were very scared to reveal their identities and their associations and properties were illegally confiscated by old Turkish state.
Now. a substantial area of the confiscated land and literally hundreds of their properties have been given back to the original owners, the Armanians, Greeks, Jews and Assyrian.
What is more, several rundown churches have been restored and returned to the Christians. For example Mor Gabriel Monastery in Mardin and St. Aziz Pandeleimon Church in Bursa.

11. 700 000 tablet computers have been given to students absolutely Free of charge.

12. The amazing project, tunnel under the sea (Marmaray) that connects the two sides of Istanbul has been completed in a relatively short space of time.

13. Before AKP, disabled people were given a trivial amount of money.
Now, both disabled child and his or her mother get a considerable money separately. Incomparably good amount of support given by the current government.

14. School materials, e. g. books are for free from elementary to high schools. University tuition fees were removed, (Zero fees).

15. 232 water dams have been built in 10 years.

16. the difference in 2002 and 2012
National Parks were 33 (3.4M H) now 40 (5.6 M H)
Natural Park were 17, now 189
Areas for Advancement
of Wildlife was 0 (Zero) now 43

17. The number of the registered vehicles (cars etc) in Turkey
2002 -- 8,6 millions
2013--- 17,9 millions

18. Turkey is the fourth most generous country in the world after USA, UK and EU.
(Just google this: "Top 30 government donors of international humanitarian assistance 2012" )

19. The number of blue flag beaches, which shows the enviromental management and water quality in beaches, has more than doubled.
2002-- 140 high quality beaches (Before AKP)
2014--- 379 high quality beaches (Now)
I can carry on and on. But there is no need to belabour the obvious.

20. As a result, AKP has won all the 9 elections in 12 years.

3 national election (34%, 46%. 50%)
3 local elections ( 40%, 38%, 45%)
2 referendums ( 68% and 58%).
1 Presidency (%52)

Erdogan has made the right choice for the Turkish People. Well done.
PALESTINE SHALL BE FREE.

Tell Erdogan to get out of Kurdistan First. Then he may have the right to talk about Palestine or others.

Erdogan is uniting the Middle East with Russia. A good move.
NO Terrorists!

Are you joking? He is fighting against Syria and Iran the most notable Russian puppets in the region. Besides, he himself dupports the terrorists of ISIS. Without western money and arms, he and his country would be toast.

ДА Шотландия и Glorious Россия должна дать миру мир и свободу
YES Scotland and Glorious Russia shall give the World Peace and FREEDOM
يجب YES اسكتلندا وروسيا المجيدة إعطاء السلام العالمي وFREEDOM NOW

No need to elaborate anything to this bigoted author, he's blind in one eye...he can only see what he deems to be negative.

I wonder if he employed any input from the citizenry?

I've seen this same post made by a commenter called "andregide12" a couple of days ago.

Yes, erdogan did many of those good things, but what about the bad? Do you have any statistics on freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, freedom of press, state of democracy in Turkey, independence of judiciary, police brutality?

PS, GDP did go up to 796 billion dollars from 230 billion dollars, but those are nominal GDP figures and they don't take into consideration the fluctuations in inflation and exchange rates over the period concerned. In real terms, Turkey’s GDP went up by 65% and not by over 300% as you're implying.

Also, AKP did pay back the $23Bn (not $33Bn) to the IMF but ended up borrowing far more from other sources during that period. Turkey’s foreign debt under AKP increased by $244Bn for the period 2003 - 2013.

troll alert!

First you copy and paste someone else's post, verbatim, without giving credit to that person, then, when challenged about its contents, you take the easy route and call me a troll.

My post was a response to yours, which deliberately portrayed Erdogan as an unblemished leader, in order to point out that his record is not unblemished. This is not trolling, but merely challenging your post by offering an alternative argument.

Instead of brushing aside my argument and calling me a troll, I expected a proper response from you, addressing the points that I've made. Can you do that? Can you say a few words on Erdogan's performance on freedoms and democracy, or would you rather take the easy "troll" route?

You dont even deserve a response my fellow Turkish friend cos your argument is invalid :) So instead of acting like a fascist hate mogul try to be open minded and logical then we can talk about this over some Turkish tea in Istanbul?

'Once and for all' you mean we should stop using our brains after your ode to a religious autocracy?

Erdogan is with Scotland and Palestine.

I'm not an expert on Erdogan, and I'm sure he has done good things for Turkey, but a 51.79% victory in the presidential election does not make him or his party as popular as you claim. In fact, it shows that Turkey is very close to 50-50 for and against him. This echoes the opinions of many Turks that I have asked; half of them are with him and half are against, depending on who you ask.

I agree, A leader carrying just over 50% indicates a leader who can easily polarize a nation.

Put in simple term you use the language of freedom and deomcracy to ask that the freedom to choose should be taken away from others. If that's not irony I don't know what is.

Turkey, Don't listen to Western Nazis and Zionazis, the day they have real power , they are going to kill or convert all Muslims.

In this world, if u r not a puppet of USA or Israel, u r a dictator for CNN, BBC and AJ. Erdogan is the best man and the founder of new Turkish Republic

Sorry about that it will be a copy paste but after all funny
comments about Turkey it is an obligation for me to share following
truth about Erdogan and Turkey as a Turkish citizen;

"Let me write once and for all why Erdogan's AKP is so popular in
Turkey. Erdogan has improved Turkey in all aspects from economy to human
rights. Yes, human rights and freedom as well. Let me go through some
of his successes.

1. it is an undeniable fact that AKP has
radically transformed the healthcare system. An unprecedented change has
taken place in the service quality of hospitals. This is a major
contribution by this government.

2. After the crippling 2001
economic crises in Turkey, Turkish economy has been stable for so many
years thanks to Erdogan's smart policy.

In 2002-- GDP was 230 billion dollars
In 2013 GDP is 796 billion dollars

3. The share of education in the budget.
2002-- 9.5 % (Before AKP)
2013 -- 18% (Now)

4. The number of airports in Turkey:
before AKP-- 25 airports (in 80 years TR history)
Now, there are 52 airports.
That means AKP has built 27 airports just in 10 years.

5. The size of divided roads in Turkey
Before AKP: 6000 km (in 80 years)
AKP built 15 000 km (in 10 years)

6. Before AKP Turkey borrowed $23,5 billion from IMF
Now, All the debt is paid back.

7. Before AKP, zero high speed train.
Now, many big cities have or will have high speed trains quite soon.

8. In 2001 economic crises, 25 banks went bust. ($47 billion lost)
No bank has gone bust for 10 years.

9. Before AKP, No Kurdish TV channel. Kurdish was totally banned in public sphere.
Now, several Kurdish TV channels including one state owned 7/24.
Moreover, Kurdish language programs at universities.

10.
Before Erdogan, minorities were very scared to reveal their identities
and their associations and properties were illegally confiscated by old
Turkish state.

Now. a substantial area of the confiscated land and
literally hundreds of their properties have been given back to the
original owners, the Armanians, Greeks, Jews and Assyrian.

What is
more, several rundown churches have been restored and returned to the
Christians. For example Mor Gabriel Monastery in Mardin and St. Aziz
Pandeleimon Church in Bursa.

11. 700 000 tablet computers have been given to students absolutely Free of charge.

12.
The amazing project, tunnel under the sea (Marmaray) that connects the
two sides of Istanbul has been completed in a relatively short space of
time.

13. Before AKP, disabled people were given a trivial amount of money.
Now,
both disabled child and his or her mother get a considerable money
separately. Incomparably good amount of support given by the current
government.

14. School materials, e. g. books are for free from
elementary to high schools. University tuition fees were removed, (Zero
fees).

15. 232 water dams have been built in 10 years.

16. the difference in 2002 and 2012

National Parks were 33 (3.4M H) now 40 (5.6 M H)
Natural Park were 17, now 189

Areas for Advancement
of Wildlife was 0 (Zero) now 43

17. The number of the registered vehicles (cars etc) in Turkey

2002 -- 8,6 millions

2013--- 17,9 millions

18. Turkey is the fourth most generous country in the world after USA, UK and EU.
(Just google this: "Top 30 government donors of international humanitarian assistance 2012" )

19.
The number of blue flag beaches, which shows the enviromental
management and water quality in beaches, has more than doubled.

2002-- 140 high quality beaches (Before AKP)

2014--- 379 high quality beaches (Now)

I can carry on and on. But there is no need to belabour the obvious.

20. As a result, AKP has won all the 9 elections in 12 years.

3 national election (34%, 46%. 50%)

3 local elections ( 40%, 38%, 45%)

2 referendums ( 68% and 58%).

1 Presidency (%52)"

Global Order is coming with YES Scotland and NO Israel ISIS terrorists.
ISLAM=PEACE=TRUTH=LIFE=PALESTINE=UK=OK=RUSSIA=CHINA

I am Her Majesty's Royal Megayacht Travel Service Fleet Admiral of
The Atlantic and my wife is The Pacific Fleet Admiral. It's Our World.

We have a couple of Polar fleet admirals in Russia and Australia as
well as a chain of command across The Philippine and British Islands.

The Royal Navy liberated the Philippines in 1772 landing at Cavite and
we're back in Manila, Tacloban, Davao, Dadiangas and Zamboanga.
It's called UK=OK! as YES Scotland takes over GLOBAL ORDER

FREEDOM

Wallace, is that you? :)

Turkish people voted for an Islamic dictatorship. This is what they want and this is what they will get. Turkey's future is pretty much known.

FREEDOM for Turkey with YES Scotland

Cafer, i just wonder how old are u?

I will be 6 in a few weeks.

Bye bye to freedom and justice from the "freedom" & "justice" party...

if you wanna see one who has no knowledge but full of idea, look at the guy above :)

Turkish Nation State Project has failed. It is time to divide this country between Sunni Muslims, Seculars, Kurds and Alevites. Kurds, Armenians, Greeks and Assyrians should get their stolen land back as well. There is nothing called a "Turkish People". It was a people fabricated on lies and twisted history and stolen land. Luckily, we will se the country returned to its righteous owners.

troll!

Waht troll?

Making a ridiculous claim of partitioning Turkey, when that is not on anyone's radar, and is extremely unlikely to happen. Making a ridiculous claim of Turkey being a stolen land, and it being returned to its "righteous owners", when the Turkish identity has been on that land for 1000 years, and when the Turks themselves are descendants of mainly Anatolian peoples. And making these ridiculous claims when they have nothing to do with this topic (i.e., Turkey's political system), for no other reason than "flaming".

That troll!

Turkey is with Russia. Syria is with Russia. Scotland too. UK=OK!

Please give an example of the lies that fabricated the Turkish people. Also...Do you mean "rightful" owner? "Righteous" sounds a little grandiose.

Mrs Adar, this is what you said: ""Alternative politics for a new Turkey is only possible with the
kind of determination and solidarity akin to what we briefly experienced
during the Gezi Revolt in June 2013. What comes out of the ballot box does certainly matter, especially in terms of the allocation of political powers"".

To remind you, there was no Gezi revolt. they were simply thugs that vandalised municipal buses and other public properties.

you should have said this: Turkish people spoke and Erdogan is their democratic choice. we have to respect this.

Is the alternative a military coup???

Gezi was a revolt against a PM whose authoritarian tendencies was getting more prominent with each passing day since him winning the 2011 elections.

Turkish people are respecting Erdogan's presidency, but many of them are genuinely worried that Erdogan will not be respecting the rules of democracy, as his record amply demonstrates.

The alternative to what? The days of military coups are over in Turkey (thanks largely to Erdogan). The goal now is establishing true democracy in Turkey, but there is a hurdle to achieving that goal; Erdogan, and his wish to run Turkey as a one-man band, by controlling both the legislative and the executive branches of the state, and by influencing the judicial branch.

Rules of democracy!! can you define please??

He said in his victory speech that he wants to be president for all Turks including those who did not vote for him. What else should he do????

What Erdogan says in his "balcony speech" and what he actually does are two different things. He said he was going to be everyone's PM in his earlier balcony speeches but went ahead and alienated half the country.

Democracy is about free speech, freedom of assembly, free press, separation of powers, human rights, protection of minorities. Erdogan violates or has violated almost all of them. Following are examples of Erdogan's undemocratic practices:

He pressurises the media bosses into not printing or showing news items he doesn't like. More than 100 journalists lost their jobs because of criticising the government. He often demonises journalists at public rallies and gets them booed (Amberin Zaman was his latest victim). He closed down twitter and youtube, and ignored the court's decision to open them, until the constitutional court made a ruling. People can't hold demonstrations at symbolic venues (i.e., 1st May celebrations in Taksim). He passed an unconstitutional law and took control of the judiciary, which is supposed to be independent, in order to prevent investigations into the corruption scandal. He does not recognise Alevism as a religion and does not recognise cemevis as their places of worship. He doesn't respect people's lifestyles: he comments on women's skirts; he tried to ban abortion; he refers to everyone who drinks as alcoholics; he interferes with TV serials.

Funny thing is that all turkis who write internationally betray turkey. :) If u want to be something in the christian states, just say "turkey is shitty" as a turki...

There are obvious three reasons why Erdogan is not acceptable. 1. He has been speaking for the Human Rights for Palestinians. 2. He is a bulwark against military take over. 3. The writer of this article is based in the US.

why do people follow other people and beleive in the words of other people the bible says for all men are liars if that's so why do we continue to believe in mans lies the red Indians summed it up by saying the white man speaks with a forked tong could this be true and should we not put our faith if jesus christ who said I am the truth the way and the light.

Organizing a new humanitarian fleet to scour GAZA, this time with proper protection, does not help swallowing the PILL in western mass media....

I am aware of the bitter disappointment in the pseudo western free press with Erdogan's re-election, or "worrisome", as Sinem puts it...

Nevertheless it IS people's will...

Now, the main objection is that Erdogan is Muslim, thus, imperils one of the most important "properties" of TV - Cracy (governments elected through mass media or TV), its "schizophrenia" or secularity of the government.

This modern principle, the inventors of democracy did not knew it, nor the rather STRANGE concept of "political parties" (to Aristotle that would be an OLIGARCHY, a government of the few on behalf of their commercial interests, say OPIUM or black slave trade and so on...), requires people worshipping in PRIVATE but FORGETTING all IN PUBLIC, specially legislating, judging and governing....

This is a "sine qua non" in a GLOBAL GOVERNMENT based on FINANCES and CORRUPTION (materialism).

English Please

Your barometer for what constitutes a "leader" must be very low?

Mr erdogan is the best leader in the middle east .

That bar is set very low. In a region filled with the worst leaders, I agree he is the best.

I don't wish to hurt the feelings of the writer, Sinem ADAR, but the future of Turkey is being seen crystal clear. In his August 10 speech, following the election results announcement, ERDOGAN invited the president of Kyrgyzstan (who was there at the site) to talk to the crowd, and the Kyrgyzstan President Almazbek ATAMBAYEV gave a speech to the same crowd. Kyrgyzstan has land border with China !. In the previous elections ERDOGAN got more than 2 percent extra votes for choosing a Central Asian song (Dombira) for his party campaigning song. The NEW Turkey is becoming a nationalist one. Anyone can easily predict it from the voter profiles. While some religious conservatives are leaving the AK Party of ERDOGAN (e.g. the followers of the Gulen Movement), nationalists are joining in. Turkish nationalists are conservatives in religious terms too, and they are not hardliner secularists. They also do believe in the Ottoman Empire like other conservatives do BUT they are more self confident. ERDOGAN is not becoming a SULTAN or a PADISAH or a CALIPH, he is becoming a KHAN (KAGAN). KHAN was a title officially carried by the Ottoman Sultans anyway as well as officially carried several other titles, e.g. THE CAESAR OF ROME (Kayser-i Rum). Besides, for those who do not know it, the Caliphate was never abolished officially, the Caliph was REDEFINED as the Parliament (MECLIS) and the President (REIS-I CUMHUR) with law. So, right now, by law, in Turkey, the Caliph is the Parliament and the President (together) officially !. We also should not forget that, the high ranking generals that were jailed within the ERGENEKON and BALYOZ Probes were NATO Generals !.

Turkey is wise. The EU is stupid.